Why I Social

Episode 38 - Dex Polizzi

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 02:28:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Dex Polizzi (Owner of Sidewalk Savers) who began his career in the agency world, specializing in public relations and digital marketing. His professional history includes working with technical industries, such as cybersecurity and tech infrastructure, as well as organizations close to the federal government.

He has since started his own business locally in Verona, NJ serves residential, commercial, and municipal markets at a hyper-local level.

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Marketing Local Business through Social Media

And of course, learn Dex Socials!

Dex's Links:

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 37 - Eli Igra Serfaty

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 27 May 2026 22:19:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Eli Igra Serfaty (Co-Founder and CEO, MAIA Digital), whose career winds from military service through venture capital before landing in the world of LinkedIn strategy. Founded in 2019, MAIA Digital specializes in LinkedIn profile optimization, company page management, and immersive workshops that pull back the curtain on the platform.

Fun fact: The name carries meaning too, inspired by MAIA, the Greek goddess of growth, which reflects the company's mission to set individuals and businesses up for LinkedIn success.

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Employee Advocacy on LinkedIn

And of course, learn why Eli socials!

Eli's Links:

Episode 36 - Marley Molkentin

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 05 May 2026 03:34:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Marley Molkentin (Communications Specialist at Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative), who helps tell stories that makes an impact. She has her Master of Arts from Columbia College Chicago, which made an incredible impact on her career and where she is today.

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Creating Media and Content That Makes A Difference

And of course, learn why Marley socials!

Marley's Links:

Episode 35 - Kaila Vander Horn

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:31:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Kaila Vander Horn (Head of Content at Speedwork) for a discussion about B2B content on LinkedIn. Kaila has more than a decade of experience in social media and digital marketing and we explore how she advanced professionally to where she is today, earning the trust of businesses and c-suite executives.

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: B2B Content and LinkedIn

And of course, learn why Kaila socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Kaila's Links:

Episode 34 - Jason Schemmel

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:51:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris has a conversation with Jason Schemmel (Get Social Done) who helps organizations operationalize AI across marketing, sales, and operations. His expansive background in social media and digital marketing opened the door for conversation across a variety of important topics not excluding the impact of AI on the newest members of the professional workforce.

Key Highlights

How his work on Twitch help landed him employment (and why what you do outside of work matters)
How he got his start with HarperCollins
The positives and negatives of AI on the latest generation entering the professional workforce

Plus, he breaks down one of his more recent successful ad-campaigns and why sometimes "results now" isn't an option.

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Consumer Philosophy and Social Media

And of course, learn why Jason socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Jason's Links:

Episode 33 - A.J. Vitiello (Producer, Drew Binksy)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:49:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris has a conversation with A.J. Vitiello (Producer for Drew Binksy). From the origins of his role with Drew (thanks to Instagram) to YouTube tips and insights, Vitiello discusses what it's like to work as a content creator in the creator economy (YouTube specific).

Key Highlights

How global travel and Instagram led to his role with Drew
Why there is more to a YouTube Hook than the first three-seconds
A deeper dive into the creator economy
What it's like to travel the globe (and manage a team of editors)

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Working for a Global Content Creator and YouTube Best Practices

And of course, learn why A.J. socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Lexi's Links:

LinkedIn
Drew Binksy (YouTube)
Videos Mentioned
- He Hasn't Slept Since 1962

Episode 32 - Lexi Croisdale

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Lexi Croisdale (Director of Global Content Marketing, Varonis). Lexi is also one of the recently announced National Institute for Social Media Advisory Board Members.

Key Highlights

How her early career experiences including internships, impacted her career success
Why she leads by example with LinkedIn
Why working in diverse industries has benefited her ability to deliver innovative content
Why she joined the National Institute for Social Media Advisory Board.

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Employee Advocacy

And of course, learn why Lexi socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Lexi's Links:

Episode 31 - Matt Bailey

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:43:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Matt Bailey (Digital Marketing Instructor, Trainer - SiteLogic Marketing) to discuss digital content creation and training.

Key Highlights

How understanding software engineering benefited his career and the importance of "balance"
Slowing down to think through the best way to execute our content
Setting clear goals and considering analytics
Training leadership to drive better results

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Training As A Tool To Fill Marketing Needs or Gaps

And of course, learn why Matt socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Mark's Links:

Episode 30 - Mark S. Babbitt

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:13:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Mark S Babbitt (Co-Author of "Good Comes First" and "A World Gone Social").

Key Highlights

Discussing writing "A World Gone Social" and "Good Comes First"
The evolution of his experience as an author and the "why" behind "Good Comes First"
Stories and lessons for executive leadership
Why workplace culture remains an important topic

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Workplace Culture
- You'll also learn more about his new podcast, "Mastering Workplace Culture."

And of course, learn why Mark socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Mark's Links:

LinkedIn
Author Page (Amazon)
Podcast (Mastering Workplace Culture)

Episode 29 - Mike Evans

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:43:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Mike Evans (Founder, Fan Day Nation). Mike breaks down how he's tackled leading a start-up in Fan Day Nation and the way his military background has played a criticial part in his role as a leader. He also discusses the greatest challenges and rewards of working in a start-up.

Key Highlights

The role his time in the military has played in his professional life
How he began his career in sales
The origins behind his work with Mile High Huddle and Sports Illustrated
Why he chose to start Fan Day Nation

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: The important role social media plays for young athletes

And of course, learn why Mike socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Mike's Links:

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 28 - Carrie Meconis

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 18:32:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Carrie Meconis (Leadership Coach and Staff at New York University). From a career that began in theatre both on the stage and as a stage manager to her journey to becoming a leadership coach, Carrie offers invaluable insights to take you into 2026 and beyond.

Key Highlights

The connection between stage management and organizational skills
The personal and mental health benefits of running
How Carrie began to work on leadership training
The importance of self-awareness and why it's an anchor for leadership

Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Setting Goals and Planning Reflection

And of course, learn why Carrie socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Carrie's Links:

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 27 - Lasheen Williams (Tchallasheen)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:18:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Lasheen Williams (Tchallasheen, IG - Cosplayer). Lasheen recounts his journey to becoming a cosplayer. You'll also learn how he has created a community of content creation opportunities from his experience as a cosplayer - and the opportunities cosplay has since afforded him.

Key Highlights

What is a cosplayer, and how did he got started
The process of content creation and collaboration
How he dealt with challenges coming with cosplay
How he uses cosplay to inspire his community
Building his brand on social media
The importance of education on social media (and why it can work)

And of course, learn why Lasheen socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Lasheen's Links:

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 26 - Chris Porter

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 02:35:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Chris Porter (Creative Director and Board Game Designer/Publisher for Chris Couch Games). Porter breaks down his journey to becoming a Creative Director and finding the best way for him - including his experience from both corporate to entreprenurial settings.

Key Highlights

How he began his path to a career of a creative designer
Becoming a board game designer and publisher
Managing the time between his work as a creative designer and a publisher
What role failure has played in his life - and how it's helped him find success
Why building community is incredibly important
The power of hello and acknowledging others
How to create a great Kickstarter experience through customer service
The difference between honesty and transparency

And of course, learn why Chris socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Chris' Links:

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 25 - Chris Alexander

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 02:29:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Chris Alexander, Senior Director of Digital Communications at NYU School of Global Public Health. Chris has spent more than a decade in higher education and has experience as a podcaster, content creator and integrated marketer.

Key Highlights

The role internships play in finding what you want (or don't want to) do
What it's like to experience different roles in a large university
The value of creating a professional portfolio
How integrated marketing has played a role in his career and he has helped build brand(s)

And of course, learn why Chris socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Chris' Links:

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 24 - Nikki Sunstrum

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 01:42:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Nikki Sunstrum, CCMP—a globally recognized leader who has developed and leveraged communications and engagement to create significant impact in both government and higher education.

Key Highlights

How her experience in government (including as an elected city council person for the city of Portland) impacted her professional perspective
Why it's important to level the playing field and bring the right people to the table
Her experience as an industry leader in higher education
Why you should "never abandon strategy" and how "content" has evolved since she began her career

And of course, learn why Nikki socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Nikki's Links:

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

The Power of Ai - A Why I Social Special

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +0000

In a very special episode of Why I Social, we explore the Power of AI. In three previous episodes, guests Theresa Portratz, Michael Katz and Maria Duran discussed their own unique perspectives and insights on the impact of AI.

Please take a listen to their full episodes at the links below (Spotify)
Theresa Potratz
Michael Katz
Maria Duron

Links (LinkedIn Profiles)

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 22 - Celeste Russell

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris has a conversation with Celeste Russell (SMS), who serves as social media manager for the National Institute for Social Media and OMCP. Russell has worked her way from intern to her current role at the organization and even has the opportunity to work with the current class of interns in her present role.

[Editorial Note: The previous episode left in a bit of audio that was not originaly intended for the final episode. An update was made on 9/23 at 9:30 p.m. to the audio shared]

Key Highlights

What it has meant to go from intern to her current role in the organization
The value of the internship experience and what it means to build a strong internship program
Why her experience in theatre has benefited her career as a marketer

And of course, learn why Celeste socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Celeste's Links:

LinkedIn
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 21 - Philip Wilkerson

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 22:07:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Philip Wilkerson (Podcast Producer, Employer Engagement Consultant) to discuss his podcast (Positive Philter) and his role as Employer Engagement Consultant at George Mason University in Career Services. Philip's interest in connecting with people helped him develop criticial skills that allowed him to launch his podcast in 2017.

This week's business topic: Building A Brand as a Practioner

Key Highlights

The unique challenges in developing new skills and why it is important to pursue professional growth
How Philip collaborates to develop, build, and promote his podcast
The idea of "failing forward" and building RESILIENCE
The importance of kindness

And of course, learn why Philip socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Philip's Links:

LinkedIn
Positive Philter
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

Editorial Note: At the time of this recording, Chris calls the episode Why I Social's 20th of Season 2. This is, instead, episode 21.

About our sponsor
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 20 - Casey Cornell

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 17:47:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Casey Cornell (Founder - The Pool Journals and OPE Brands) to dig into the life of a consultant in the gig economy. From building brands to customer loyalty, Casey has been involved in every aspect of the marketing experience - before becoming founder of his own consulting business.

Key Highlights

A deep dive into the gig economy and life as a consultant
The gamification of social media
The importance of customer loyalty in marketing
The pros, cons and challenges of start-up life
The value of organic social and referrals in closing business deals

And of course, learn why Casey socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Casey's Links:

LinkedIn
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 19 - Ryan Pena

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:59:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with returning guest Ryan Pena (Senior Marketing Leader, NMDP), a digital strategist and educator with a passion for helping individuals and organizations tell their stories more effectively through social media and emerging technologies. He expands upon what he's been up to since his original appearance on Why I Social - and more about his role as Senior Marketing Leader at NMDP.

Key Highlights

Why starting as a self-taught marketer fueled his curiosity and built the foundation for his social media expertise.
Why storytelling, done well, can cut through even the noisiest online spaces
The importance of building genuine relationships, not just "connections," online

And of course, learn why Ryan socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Ryan's Links:

LinkedIn
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 18 - Chaim Shapiro

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:29:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Chaim Shapiro, a career services professional, speaker, and LinkedIn strategist with a deep passion for helping others navigate their professional journeys.

Chaim shares the winding road that led him into career services—despite being told not to pursue a career in education and explains why talking someone out of their passion can be one of the biggest disservices you can do.

Key Highlights

Why a visit to Universal Studios' backlot tour became a surprisingly profound (and slightly depressing) moment
How Chaim's early love for sports didn't translate into a career—but helped shape how he helps others explore overlooked opportunities
The importance of helping people create new opportunities—even in industries and roles that don't exist yet
How adaptability has been key to his work in career development and higher education

Chaim also provides practical advice about:

Using LinkedIn effectively and what changes he loves (and a few he doesn't)
Why mentorship and curiosity are foundational to building a meaningful career
The most rewarding aspects of working in career services and the impact of truly seeing a student's potential

And of course, learn why Chaim socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Chris' Links

LinkedIn
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 17 - Chris Fitzpatrick

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:34:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris speaks with Chris Fitzpatrick (Chris Fitzpatrick Speakes). Chris shares his journey from college to becoming a sought-after speaker and HR expert, exploring the intersection of social media, talent acquisition, and mentorship.

Key Highlights

Chris's evolution from student government president to HR professional and public speaker
The transformative power of active listening in communication and relationship-building
How social media has revolutionized talent acquisition and job searching

Chris also provides practical advice about:

Leveraging social media effectively in your job search and career development
The importance of mentorship in personal and professional growth
Owning your career and treating yourself as the CEO of your personal brand

Quoteables:

On The Value of Mentorship

"Mentorship can change somebody's life. We can all be mentors and we can all be mentored. I've never met anybody who has so much experience that they could never benefit from being mentored by another human being."

And of course, learn why Chris socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Chris' Links

LinkedIn
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 16 - Internship Roundtable (2025)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this special episode of Why I Social: Listen to a live conversation with this year's 2025 Internship Class for the National Institute for Social Media.

Key Discussion Points:

• The challenges of wearing multiple hats in social media roles

• How internships shape career paths and open unexpected doors

• The importance of strategy in creating meaningful content

• Why networking remains crucial for securing opportunities

• The evolving landscape of social media best practices

Connect with the 2025 Internship Class on LinkedIn:

Alexis Barth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-barth/
Cassandra Hultgren - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-hultgren/
Jennifer Ready - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer2ready/
Kassity Lee - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassity-lee/
Liliana Marquez - https://www.linkedin.com/in/liliana-marquez-04lm/

Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 15 - Maria Duron

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 20:12:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris speaks with Coach Maria Duron (Professional Trainer, Consultant and Google Coach). Maria shares her road to becoming a Google Coach and shares more information about how search has evolved - from SEO to AI.

Key Highlights

Maria's "squiggly" career path through rural America's marketing landscape
The creation of Brand Chat on Twitter in 2009
Her role in Google's small business outreach program

Maria also provides practical advice about:

Adapting to AI-driven conversational search
The importance of consistency over viral moments in marketing
How AI is transforming content visibility and credibility
Why "hope is wonderful to have, but it's a poor strategy" in business

Quoteables:

On Consistency in Marketing

"That is the boring part of marketing that people don't understand. They want the sexy silver bullet, what can I do to fix this and get that flash and excitement and become viral? Well, as everybody knows here who's done any training in social media, those viral moments are rare. They're not something that are common."

And of course, learn why Maria socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Maria's Links:

LinkedIn
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Join The Why I Social Community Discord: https://discord.gg/GsB6rhHr
Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 14 - Nick Cicero (Mondo Metrics)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:40:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris speaks with returning guest Nick Cicero (Founder, Mondo Metrics). Nick previously appeared on the podcast in 2015 (listen here) and has since sold his first start-up and now serves as founder of Mondo Metrics, an expert data consultancy and analytics software platform designed to transform fragmented metrics into actionable insights.

Nick discusses his experiences as a founder, investing in other businesses, and the journey to creating a new company. He also breaks down the value of data, including how to optimize across multiple digital media platforms.

Key Highlights

The Evolution of Content Distribution
The Power of Consolidated Analytics
Rethinking Monetization Strategies

Nick also provides practical advice about:

Overcoming Data Fragmentation
Adapting Content for Different Platform
Leveraging Data for Monetization

Quoteables:
"You're never too big to pick up a broom. And that is one of the things that has always stuck with me. In every role that I bring. And that means that you got to be able to talk to the guys that are the lowest guys on the job site, the guys that are sweeping up the floors, that are taking out the garbage, that are doing those things. But then you got to be able to walk right in and talk to the executive, talk to the CEO, talk to the project manager."

And of course, learn why Nick socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Jessica's Links:

LinkedIn
Mondo Metrics
Listen to Nick's first episode on Why I Social (Ep. 53, S1) on Spotify
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Join The Why I Social Community Discord: https://discord.gg/GsB6rhHr
Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 13 - Jessica Malnik

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 12 May 2025 20:45:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social: Chris speaks with Jessica Malnik (JessicaMalnik.com), who works with Founders and Heads of Marketing to build messaging systems with a focus on compound revenue over time. She has a heavy focus on conversion copywriting, amongst other critical services she offers her clients.

Key Highlights

Conversion Copywriting: Jessica specializes in conversion copy and focuses on influencing decisions and building brand awareness through strategic messaging.

- AI in Marketing: AI is a powerful tool, Jessica notes, describing it as an "incredible sparring partner" for marketers. She emphasizes its potential to enhance, not replace, human creativity.

- Business Ownership Mindset: Transitioning from employee to business owner requires a mindset shift. Jessica stresses the importance of taking responsibility for all business aspects.

Quoteables:

- "Even if you are just freelancing... you need to make that shift between nine to five employee and a business owner."

And of course, learn why Jessica socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

Jessica's Links:

LinkedIn
JessicaMalnik.com
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Join The Why I Social Community Discord: https://discord.gg/GsB6rhHr
Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 12 - RJ Thompson

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:19:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social: Chris speaks with R.J. Thompson, Manager of Multimedia and Digital Strategy (Health Sciences) at University of Pittsburgh. He is a dynamic figure in higher education marketing and nonprofit leadership.

Key Highlights:

- Innovative Social Media Strategy for Nonprofits: RJ shares insights from his work with Bellevue Forward, emphasizing storytelling through social media without a budget. He highlights the power of engaging local communities to amplify their narratives.

- Higher Education and Teaching Philosophy: Discover RJ's belief in every moment as a learning opportunity. He discusses his graphic design background and how creativity fuels problem-solving in education.

- LEGO Certifications and Community Projects: Explore RJ's LEGO certifications and his collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University. Learn how LEGO serves as both a stress reliever and a tool for engaging neurodivergent children.

- Community Involvement and Leadership: RJ reflects on his motivations for community work and how he encourages young professionals to create impactful experiences.

And of course, learn why RJ socials on this week's episode of Why I Social!

RJ's Links:

LinkedIn
Bellevue Forward
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Join The Why I Social Community Discord: https://discord.gg/GsB6rhHr
Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 11 - Michael Katz

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social: Chris speaks with Michael Katz, Founder and CEO of Flowsend. From an internship in China, learning experiences at Qualtrics to founding Flowsend - Michael has run into the fire to create new opportunities for himself personally and professionally.

Learn why Michael socials on this week's episode!

Key Highlights:

- - Michael Katz's Career Journey: Michael shares his experiences from an internship in China to his transformative time at Qualtrics.

- AI in Content Creation: Michael discusses AI as a "thought partner," enhancing creativity and helping overcome writer's block

- AI for Social Media Managers: Michael highlights how AI tools can save time and boost efficiency, allowing managers to focus on creativity and authenticity.

Michael's Links:

LinkedIn
Learn more about Flowsend
- Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Join The Why I Social Community Discord: https://discord.gg/GsB6rhHr
Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Did you know you can get Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

Episode 10 - Theresa Potratz

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social: Chris Barrows sits down with Growth Marketer Theresa Potratz. Teresa shares her journey from social media specialist to growth marketing director. She also discusses how AI is transforming content creation and strategy - and gives insights into her unique podcast, "Unhinged History."

Learn why Theresa socials on this week's episode!

Key Highlights:

- Evolution of Social Media Marketing: Discover how AI has revolutionized the industry, shifting from manual processes to efficient, AI-assisted methods. Theresa shares insights on the balance between AI tools and human oversight.

- Growth Marketing Strategies: Theresa defines growth marketing and shares her career journey, emphasizing the importance of diverse skills in creating effective strategies.

- "Unhinged History" Podcast: Learn about Theresa's podcast, which brings unique historical events to life, and how she leverages social media to expand its reach with a focus on Tik Tok.

Theresa's Links:

Join The Why I Social Community Discord: https://discord.gg/GsB6rhHr
Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

Did you know you can get Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 9 - Tovah Kopan

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 14:29:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social: Chris Barrows sits down with Tovah Kopan who shares her journey from law school to legal technology. She also shares his experience creating community - both in her community and through the Go Boldly Initiative - as well as how to balance multiple roles from career to personal life.

Highlights of the discussion include:

- From Law to Legal Tech: Tovah shares her journey from aspiring lawyer to finding her niche in legal tech, emphasizing the importance of staying "legal adjacent."

- The Go Boldly Initiative: Explore Tovah's efforts in community building through her podcast and initiatives, creating spaces for connection and growth.

- Social Media's Role in Community Engagement: Discover how social media transforms community engagement, especially in areas lacking traditional news sources.

- Balancing Multiple Roles: Tovah discusses managing her career, podcast, and community initiatives, sharing strategies for effective time management and content creation.

- Parenting in the Digital Age: Reflect on the challenges and joys of parenting with social media, including the potential for positive educational experiences.

Learn why Tovah socials on this week's episode!

Tovah's Links:

Join The Why I Social Community Discord: https://discord.gg/GsB6rhHr
Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn]

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

Did you know you can get Get 30% off your first 3 months of Flowsend.AI using SOCIALCHRIS referral code. Sign up today.

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 8 - Tim Sohn

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:36:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Why I Social: Chris Barrows sits down with Tim Sohn, a social media consultant and cancer survivor. Tim shares his inspiring journey from a decade in journalism to becoming an independent consultant. He discusses the creation of "Perspectives on Cancer," a community offering support to cancer patients, survivors, and their families.

Highlights of the discussion include:

- From Newsrooms to Social Media: Tim's transition from journalism to social media consulting, driven by a need to educate businesses in rural Pennsylvania.

- Consulting Success: Insights into client relationships and defining success in social media strategies.

- Building Community: The story behind "Perspectives on Cancer" and its impact on connecting people through shared experiences.

- LinkedIn's Unexpected Role: How LinkedIn became a platform for personal connections and community building.

Learn why Tim socials on this week's episode!

Tim's Links:

Episode 7 - Jenny Li Fowler

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Why I Social Podcast, Chris speaks with Jenny Li Fowler, Director of Social Media Strategy at MIT. Jenny has spent nearly two decades in digital marketing with more than a decade in Higher Education. Her experience in working with organic social media led to her writing "Organic Social Media - How To Build Flourishing Online Communities".

Highlights of the discussion include:

Building a career in Higher Education
The power of community and organic social media
The experience of writing and promoting a book
Why working social media groups - work.

Learn why Jenny socials on this week's episode!

Jenny's Links:

Episode 6 - Sue Serna (Serna Social)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Why I Social Podcast, Chris speaks with Sue Serna, Founder of Serna Social. Sue began her career as a journalist and has since become an expert in social media governance, security, and risk. She also served as the head of global social media at Cargill.

With a focus on smart, safer social media - you'll learn more than a few tricks of the trade from Sue.

Highlights of the discussion include:

Recommendations on tools to keep your social media platforms safe
Insights into experiences as a hiring manager for social media roles
Why journalism experience translates into effective social media managers

Learn why Sue socials on this week's episode!

Sue's Links:

Join The Why I Social Community Discord: https://discord.gg/GsB6rhHr

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 5 - Alex Hultgren

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Why I Social Podcast, Chris speaks with Alex Hultgren, fractional CMO and author.

From Ford's leadership program to his career as a fractional CMO, Hultgren offers a wealth of knowledge that will help inspire others as they look to build their career. His book "The Three Knows" - which came out in January 2025 - distills everything you need to know down to three fundamental questions: do you know your customer, do you know yourself, and do you know your funnel (e.g. your go-to-market execution).

Highlights of the discussion include:

His experience with Ford's leadership program
Developing his career growth through soft skills and why they matter
How to transition from contributor to manager
The benefits of working independently
The Three "Knows" of Marketing

Learn why Alex socials on this week's episode!

Dan's Links:

LinkedIn
The Three Knows (Amazon)

Episode 4 - Dan LaToracca

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Why I Social Podcast, Chris speaks with Dan LaToracca, who currently serves as Marketing Director at Zoomph. Dan's previous work includes social and leadership roles with the Carolina Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes.

Highlights of the discussion include:

Building a career in the sports media industry
What he's learned in his role as an adjunct teacher
How the sports industry has drastically changed since he began his career
The expected and unexpected in content preparation
The importance of data in sport's social media - and how to build multiple pieces of content from major moments

Learn why Dan socials on this week's episode!

Dan's Links:

Episode 3 - Casie Shimansky

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Why I Social Podcast, Chris speaks with a three-time guest on the podcast dating back to 2015 as Casie Shimansky returns to podcast. Shimanksky's experience in social media and the digital marketing profession offers a wealth of knowledge.

Highlights of the discussion include:

How to successfully manage a layoff
A decade worth of social media changes
How she has raised nearly 200k for childhood cancer research
and much more...

Learn why Casie socials on this week's episode!

Casie's Links:

Join The Why I Social Community Discord: https://discord.gg/PgHcZNfK

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 2 - Robbie Schneider

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:45:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Why I Social Podcast, Chris speaks with healthcare communications practitioner Robbie Schneider, author of "Social Media, Sanity & You."

Highlights of the discussion include:

Her career in Healthcare Communication
The importance of mental health for social media professionals
Her book writing journey
and much more...

Quotable Moment:
"Changes happen constantly. When you work in the social media space, it is the biggest game of Tetris you'll ever play."

Learn why Robbie socials on this week's episode!

Robbie's Links:

Purchase your copy of Social Media, Sanity & You today
- Kindle Edition
- Paperback Edition

Episode 1 - Callie Goodwin

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:29:00 +0000

Chris speaks with Callie Goodwin, Founder of Sparks of Joy and Communications Manager at ZeeMee. Callie shares highlights of her career from being a team of one in Higher Education to building a small business on TikTok.

Learn why Callie socials on this week's episode!

Callie's Links:

Join The Why I Social Community Discord: https://discord.gg/PgHcZNfK

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 0 - The Return of Why I Social

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000

We're excited to announce the OFFICIAL return of the Why I Social Podcast - with full sponsorship from the National Institute for Social Media.

Hear Chris' discussion with Jen Radke, CEO of NISM, as we share what's new and what's the same - and tease the first official episode in two weeks featuring Callie Goodwin.

About our sponsor:
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.

Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/

The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

Episode 162 - Chris "Sully" Sully (@CSSully)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Chris Sully (@CSSully) is Marketing Manager at Funko. He's also the co-owner of Nerd FU. He is the host/co-host of multiple podcasts including Funko's Funkast. His journey to Funko (his number one job) is one that will inspire many to chase their dreams.

[The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media (NISM). You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.]

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google or Spotify.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Chris on Twitter
Connect With Chris on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Episode 161 - Alesia Hendley (@TheSmoothFactor)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 18:25:19 +0000

Alesia Hendley (@TheSmoothFactor on Twitter) is an audio-visual operator and multi-media journalist. She is a co-host for the Social Slice (learn more at socialslice.io) and has a passion for technology (especially audio-visual). Alesia was also recommended to the podcast by alum Brad Parler.

[The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media (NISM). You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.]

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google or Spotify.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Amy on Twitter
Connect With Amy on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Episode 160 - Social Good and Influence for Good (Special Episode)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Taking a break from the usual conversations taking place on Why I Social - this episode looks at the power of social media to do social good. It also calls back to the work of many of the alumni of the podcast who are doing good things and providing positive social influence to inform and educate others on important global conversations.

[The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media (NISM). You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.]

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Episode 159 - Amy Jauman (@Amyjauman)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 22 May 2018 15:30:00 +0000

Amy Jauman is the Chief Learning Officer at the National Institute for Social Media. Additionally, she serves as an adjunct professor in business and marketing at St. Catherine University and owns Remotely Smart. She has extensive experience with instruction from early-childhood education to adult education.

[The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media (NISM). You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.]

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Episode 158 - Rob Zaleski (@Robzie_)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 08 May 2018 21:33:50 +0000

Rob Zaleski is a Digital Content Marketer at ShippingEasy in Austin. In addition, he's the host of a new podcast, Keep Marketing Weird. Previous experiences also include time as Marketing Manager for Marketing Profs and Content Marketing Associate for Main Street Hub.

[The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media (NISM). You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.]

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google or Spotify.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Ryan on Twitter
Connect With Ryan on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Episode 157 - Ryan Farrell (@Ryan_Farrell6)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 15:42:39 +0000

Ryan Farrell is a Digital Marketing Specialist at Purdue University. He has been working in marketing since 2012 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He is the also proud father of three children.

[The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media (NISM). You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.]

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Episode 156 - Tess Kaytmaz (@tessmeonit)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 15:14:05 +0000

Tess Kaytmaz currently works at Cross Fit Virtuosity in Brooklyn and is one of the most passionate people I've had the pleasure of meeting through social media (and previous guests, members of #SMUN). She has a background in social media - which she most recently has used to take on the challenge of mental health awareness. She is also a photographer and you'll find her active on Instagram at username tess_michael.

[The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media (NISM). You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.]

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google or Spotify.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Tess on Twitter
Connect with Tess on Instagram
Connect With Tess on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Episode 155 - Casie Shimansky Returns (@TheNameisCasie)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Casie Shimansky is an award-winning social media strategist for Cisco's talent brand team. She is a previous guest on the show and the first to return as an alum for a regular episode of the podcast. It's also possible you follow her dog on Instagram.

[The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media (NISM). You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.]

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google or Spotify.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Katie on Twitter
Connect With Katie on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Episode 154 - Katie Santo (@HeyJustKatie)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 12:19:44 +0000

Katie Santo is Web Training and Content Support Specialist at New York University. She has previously worked at Apple as an in-store guest/trainer expert. She joins the show with an engaging Twitter presence that is both educational and embraces pop culture.

[The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media (NISM). You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.]

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Sessions - Episode 8 (Twitter's New Bookmark Feature)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 20:41:46 +0000

Welcome to the eighth episode of Why I Social Sessions - where we bring you short discussions focused on one singular topic. This is not your standard Why I Social episode where we learn about a guest - but instead - we focus on important topics impacting the social media space today.

Today, on Why I Social Sessions, Chris discusses the addition of a bookmark feature to Twitter.

On Episode 8

1. What is this feature and how do I use it?

2. What impact could this have on Twitter?

Following the conversation:

I'd encourage you to use the hashtag #WISSessions to share your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook.

This Week's Question(s):

Will you be using this feature?

Music for Why I Social Sessions is "Voice Over Under" by Kevin McCleod

"Voice Over Under"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 153 - Willis Williams (@Social_Chef)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Willis Williams is Digital Strategist for Dealer Authority. Originally from the Bronx, Williams currently lives in upstate New York and is active in the community volunteering at the Woodstock Film Festival. He is also an ambassador for Hootsuite.

[The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media (NISM). You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.]

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google or Spotify.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Willis on Twitter
Connect With Willis on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Episode 152 - Justin Gatewood (@lightjump)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Justin Gatewood (@lightjump) is Web, SharePoint and Cloud Systems Administrator at Victor Valley College. He served as a member of the United States Navy from 1990 through 1995 as a Cryptologic Technician receiving the rank of Petty Officer Second Class.

He is the recipient of multiple awards professionally including the 2016 MetaHero Award for "Best In Business Process" - as well as multiple "Best of Track" awards at higher education conferences.

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google or Spotify.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Justin on Twitter
Connect With Justin on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by the National Institute for Social Media. You can learn more about their programs at nismonline.org.

Special Announcement: New Sponsor for Why I Social

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 09:00:00 +0000

Before releasing the next episode of Why I Social - episode 152 - host Chris Barrows has a special announcement to make regarding the new sponsor of the podcast.

As the podcast has shifted focus - with a mission to really showcase people who not only social - but have stories that can impact and educate listeners - "education" has become a key term for the podcast.

With this in mind - Why I Social is proud to introduce it's new sponsor - the National Institute for Social Media.

Episode 151 - Jessica Matthews (@purelyjess)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Jessica Matthews is the Digital Media Director for the First Lady of New York City. Her previous experience includes the New York Times and New York University. She also interned at Google before beginning her full-time career as a social media and digital marketing professional.

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google or Spotify.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Jessica on Twitter
Connect With Jessica on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is now accepting monthly episode sponsorship opportunities - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Episode 72 - The One With Ikea Babies

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 15:41:49 +0000

On this week's episode, our hosts discover Ikea's new line of products - pregnancy tests. Also, GoPro is more like "oh no".

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Kodak announces its own cryptocurrency and watches stock price skyrocket [Verge - story by Shannon Liao]

2. Viacom snaps up influencer platform Whosay as it looks to bulk up branded content offering [The Drum - story by Rebecca Stewart]

3. Ikea Releases Ad That Doubles As A Pregnancy Test and Reveals Crib Discount [Independent - Story by Chelsea Ritschel]

4. GoPro cuts 200-300 jobs, largely impacting its drone division [Techcrunch - story by Matt Burns & Brian Heater]

5. Hot Topic: Hot Topic: News Feed FYI: Bringing People Together [Facebook Blog - Post by Adam Mosseri]

Honorable Mention

Stranger Things' David Harbour just made these yearbook pictures [Twitter Moments]

DISHonorable Mention

False Alarm in Hawaii [The Verge]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@kenyatta

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 150 - Dr. Josie Ahlquist (@josieahlquist)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Dr. Josie Ahlquist is a digital leadership educator (josieahlquist.com), teacher and speaker. She has been in education since 2003 including 12 years working at the university level. She currently serves as Research Associate and Instructor at Florida State University and has been named the "Top 50 Must-Read Higher Education Technology blog" by Ed Tech Magazine three times since 2013.

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Josie on Twitter
Connect With Josie on LinkedIn.

Episode 71 - The One Where Every Fruit Goes Bad

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, (spoiler) we somehow end up discussing our favorite fruits. Also, "Bright" really wasn't that bad and is "a lot better than Suicide Squad."

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Iran blocks encrypted messaging apps amid nationwide protests [Verge - story by Russell Brandom]

2. Exclusive: Spotify files for its IPO [Axios - story by Dan Primack]

3. Netflix's 'Bright' reached 11M viewers in its first three days, according to Nielsen [Techcrunch - story by Anthony Ha]

4. Facebook Just Created More Ad Inventory - Through Instagram [AdAge - story by George Slefo]

5. (Hot Topic) Logan Paul

Honorable Mention

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's CES appearance has been canceled [Techcrunch]

DISHonorable Mention

Los Angeles Man Arrested for "swatting call" results in man's death [USA Today]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@Netflix

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 70 - The One With A Brand New Year

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 14:22:48 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris look back at 2017 and poorly attempt to predict the future. We assume it's poorly because we haven't seen the future yet - so they could in-fact be prophets. Also, that dude who scheduled six dates in one night returns to the show - find out why!

Note: This episode was recorded on Thursday, December 28th

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple Is Developing an EKG Heart Monitor for Its Smartwatch [Bloomberg - story by Alex Webb]

2. Twitter's Adding More Notification Types to Boost Awareness and Engagement [Social Media Today - story by Andrew Hutchinson]

3. Library of Congress Reins in Twitter Archives Project [Washington Times - story by Andrew Blake]

4. 10 Ways Tech Will Shape Your Life (for better or worse) [Washington Post - story by Geoffrey A. Fowler]

5. (Hot Topic) Amir and Chris' Top Social, Marketing and Technology Stories and Trends

Honorable Mention(s)

Bye Black bars [The Verge]

DISHonorable Mention of the Year

Guy Who Scheduled 6 Dates In One Night Was Kicked Out of Another Bar for Allegedly Hitting On All The Women [Washingtonian]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@chrissyteigen (has since then changed to a "private" twitter)

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 149 - The State of the Podcast (2017)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 14:04:48 +0000

On this week's episode, host Chris Barrows (@CBarrows) goes off-the-cuff to take a look back at 2017, shares some of his favorite episodes (5, of course) and looks forward to 2018.

Favorite Episodes include (in no particular order):

Liz Gross (Episode 144)
Jenn Patel (Episode 139)
Matt Marcinek (Episode 128)
Danny Vecchiarelli (Episode 109)

New episodes with great guests doing awesome things on social return in January!

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is now accepting monthly - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Episode 69 - The One With Too Much Tube

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 14:59:41 +0000

On this week's episode, it's basically a holiday episode. Only, no holiday music - because of music rights and stuff. Or time. You decide the reason. Also, the truth is out there.

Note: This episode was recorded on Thursday, December 21st.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. HQ Trivia's founders are facing fundraising roadblocks after investors learned of alleged bad behavior [Recode - story by Kurt Wagner]

2. Forrester: YouTube is most popular social site for 12- to 17-year-olds [Social Media Today - story by David Kirkpatrick]

3. Apple confirms iPhones with older batteries will take hits in performance [The Verge - story by Tom Warren and Nick Statt]

4. Magic Leap finally unveils augmented reality goggles, says it's shipping next year [The Verge - story by Adi Robertson]

5. (Hot Topic) Eric Schmidt to become technical advisor to Alphabet [ABC Blog]

Honorable Mention(s)

Instagram Testing Photos Posts to Multiple Accounts [Matt Navarra]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Amazon Files for "AmazonTube" Trademark [TechCrunch]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@Astrobull67

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 68 - The One With Less Digital Beef

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amazon and Google have less beef. It's kind of like a sequel in the way The Last Jedi is a sequel to The Force Awakens. Also, we don't spoil The Last Jedi - in case that was some sort of a concern of yours.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple's iMac Pro arrives December 14, starting at $4,999 [TechCrunch - story by Brian Heater]

2. Storify Is Shutting Down [The Verge - story by Shannon Liao]

3. Feds reportedly spent 22 million on Mysterious UFO Program [CNET - story by Steven Musil]

4. Amazon to start selling Apple TV and Google Chromecast [CNET - story by Ben Fox Rubin]

5. (Hot Topic) Here are the films and TV shows Disney would get from Fox [Polygon - story by Samit Sarkar]

Honorable Mention(s)

Anheuser-Busch Orders 40 Electric Self-Driving Semi-Trucks from Tesla [Adweek]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

#Netneutality (not Neutrality) trends on Twitter [Tweet sharing story by CNET]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@Monte_Colorman

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 148 - Chad Jennings (@ChadJennings22)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Chad Jennings is a beat writer and columnist for the Boston Herald. He previously has written for the Journal News (NY) and the Scranton Times-Tribune (Scranton). He currently covers the Boston Red Sox for the Herald and social plays a large role in that coverage.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Chad on Twitter
Connect With Chad on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is now accepting monthly - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Episode 67 - The One With Digital Beef

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amazon and Google have some beef. Also, it's pretty clear beef if on Zonozi's mind.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple's App of the Year Makes Sense If You've Been Paying Attention to the News [Slate]

2. Early Data Shows Tweets Are A Hit With Users [Buzzfeed]

3. Google is pulling YouTube off the FireTV and Echo Show as feud with Amazon grows [The Verge]

4. Hilton rolling out mobile-controlled hotel rooms in 2018 [ZDNet]

5. (Hot Topic) Sprout Social Acquires Simply Measured

Honorable Mention(s)

Instagram Adds Story Highlights and Archives [Instagram Blog]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

A iPhone case that helps you capture engagement reaction on video [featured on The Verge's Instagram]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@jonmorosi

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature). Special thanks to listener Chris Bryant for sharing this week.

Episode 66 - The One Where Bitcoin Is The Reel Deal

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris break down what's up with this whole "Bitcoin" thing. Also, it's supersized. An extra 10 minutes just because we like you - or we had a lot to say - you decide.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple's had a shockingly bad week of software problems [The Verge]

2. YouTube is launching its own take on Stories with a new video format called 'Reels' [TechCrunch]

3. Denver to Boulder in eight minutes? Colorado will get first test track for a Hyperloop-inspired transportation system [Denver Post]

4. How Snapchat is separating social from media [Axios]

5. (Hot Topic) All You Need to Know About Bitcoin's Rise, From $0.01 to $11,000 [Bloomberg]

Honorable Mention(s)

New screenshots tip a ton of new Instagram features, including 'close friends' [Mashable]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

The feds want Martin Shkreli's one-of-a-kind Wu Tang album [The Verge]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

Giants fans on the "IR"

Episode 147 - Social Thanks from Why I Social Alumni

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 02:08:07 +0000

This week's episode is a bit of a callback - as alumni from previous episodes returned to give thanks - and props - to those in the space who have inspired them.

Note: My sincere apologies for the delay on this week's episode. In light of being sick, I didn't realize it never went out as scheduled. My gratitude for understanding.

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Episode 65 - The One Where Facebook Goes Streaking

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris confess their Black Friday purchases. Also, our hosts debate the intention behind a recent McDonald's tweet.

Where do you stand? Also, what did you buy on Black Friday this year? Let us know using #FiveFavorites on Twitter.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Twitter testing a feature that shows how many are 'talking about' tweets [TechCrunch]

2. Facebook Confirms Testing of Snapchat Style Streaks Feature [CNet]

3. 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' Gets 4K Mention on iTunes, Suggesting Disney's 4K Holdout May Be Ending [MacRumors]

4. People driving while playing Pokémon Go caused millions in damages in 148 days [The Verge]

5. (Hot Topic) Black Friday racks up $5.03B in online sales, $2B on mobile alone [TechCrunch]

Honorable Mention(s)

LinkedIn's CEO surprised an employee with a selfie at her desk while she was away on vacation [Business Insider UK)

DISHonorable Mention(s)

See Five Favorites Tweet of the Week - we promise it will make sense.

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@mcDonaldsCorp

Episode 64 - The One With (Black Friday) Dealz Ya'll

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 02:24:12 +0000

On this week's episode, we got deals. LOTS OF DEALZ. Also, Paris Hilton claims she invented the selfie. We have strong feelings on such a claim.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Twitter's new premium APIs give developers access to more tweets, higher rate limits [VentureBeat]

2. Twitter Confirms it's Testing a tweetstorm feature [TechCrunch]

3. Black Friday 2017 Tech Deals [The Verge]

4. Microsoft Rolls Out LinkedIn Integrations in Outlook [TechCrunch]

5. (Hot Topic) Tesla News Galore

Honorable Mention(s)

We Used the App That Reveals What Women Look Like Without Their Makeup on the Man Who Created It [LinkedIn Blog]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Paris Hilton Claims to have invented the selfie [Twitter Moments]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@adampknave

Episode 146 - Liz Gross (@LizGross144)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Dr. Liz Gross is the Founding Director of Campus Sonar. As far as social listening goes, she is one of the most respected persons in the social media industry and higher education. She also serves as an instructor for Karine Joly's Higher Ed Experts.

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Liz on Twitter
Connect With Liz on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is now accepting monthly - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Episode 63 - The One That's Musical.ly to your ears

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 04:17:07 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir admits he's never watched, Harry Potter. Also, Sean Parker is at it (again).

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Sean Parker unloads on Facebook: "God only knows what it's doing to our children's brains" [Axios]

2. The Magic of Harry Potter is Coming to a Neighborhood Near You [NianticLabs]

3. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel is redesigning Snapchat because it's too hard to use [Recode]

4. Disney Lays Down the Law for Theaters on "Star Wars - The Last Jedi" [WSJ]

5. (Hot Topic) China's Toutiao is buying Musical.ly in a deal worth $800M-$1B [TechCrunch]

Honorable Mention(s)

Creating Your Resume Just Got a Whole Lot Easier with Microsoft and LinkedIn [LinkedIn Blog]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Facebook trialing system to combat revenge porn – but you have to upload your nudes … [9 to 5 Mac]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@Indiequick

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 62 - The One With Cabin WiFi

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir is operating on shoddy wifi. Also, the episode went up a day late. It's the internet's fault. It was supposed to go on time. We don't make excuses here though. It's late. Want to fight about it? We don't - we're peaceful co-hosts. Hopefully, if you've even read this far, you've forgiven us by now.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple fires iPhone X engineer after daughter's hands-on video goes viral [The Verge]

2. Q&A: The Stranger Things Kids on Their Social, Streaming and Gaming Obsessions [AdWeek]

3. YouTube's cable cutter option rolls out to XBox One and other smart TVs [The Next Web]

4. Daydream's Chromecast support leaves Oculus VR in the dust [Venturebeat]

5. (Hot Topic) The X Box One X - Everything You Need To Know [Gamespot]

Honorable Mention(s)

Google CEO makes fixing hamburger emoji his top priority [The Verge]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Microsoft Engineer forced to install Chrome mid presentation [The Next Web]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@DavidKHarbour

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 145 - C.C. Chapman (@CC_Chapman)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 07:00:00 +0000

C.C. Chapman is a freelance creative and marketing consultant. He is also the host (and producer) of the Why I Write podcast in conjunction with the National Council of Teachers of English. In addition to his consultation work and podcasting, C.C. is also an Adjunct Professor of Marketing and Communications at Bentley University

Hear their story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with C.C. on Twitter
Connect With C.C. on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is now accepting monthly - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Episode 61 - The One Where Amazon Opens Your Door

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris is preparing for a party with Mickey Mouse. It's possible Bezos visited his home while he was away. Also, Super Mario Odyssey is getting some super reviews.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Trump to Open Skies to More Drone Testing [NYT]

2. Designing 'Super Mario Odyssey': Nintendo re-invents a gaming icon [CNN]

3. New York To Replace Metrocard with Modern Way to Pay Transit Fares [NYT]

4. Twitter stock surges more than 18 percent as it nears first profitable quarter [CNBC]

5. (Hot Topic) Amazon Key Is Bigger Than Package Delivery [Gizmodo]

Honorable Mention(s)

Instagram - two person live streams [Product Hunt]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

US Air Force Tweets Santa Isn't Real [Gizmodo]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@alyankovic

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 60 - The One That's Finger Lickin' Good

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir prepares to beat all odds in order to get a new iPhone (and he tells you how you can too). Also, we got food puns.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. How to preorder an iPhone X the right way [Cult of Mac]

2. AMC is launching its own VR app with a 360-degree scene from The Walking Dead [The Verge]

3. The BBC is turning to AI to improve its programming [Engadget]

4. How big is Twitter Moments? [Balaji S. Srinivasan]

5. (Hot Topic) Service Industries and Creative Social

Honorable Mention(s)

Snap is selling a dancing hot dog costume on Amazon [TechCrunch]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

LinkedIn May Consider Developing Original Shows [The Information]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@KarenVaites

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 144 - Matt Matkovich and Phil Januszewski (@MPPresentations)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Matt Matkovich and Phil Januszewski make up the team behind M&P Presentations. Matt is a full-time high school guidance counselor and Phil is a full-time high school chemistry/physics teacher.

Together, they form M&P Presentations who offer motivational presentations, professional workshops, master of ceremony services, and event hosting for all ages and groups.

Hear their story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does Their Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with M&P Presentations on Twitter
Connect With Matt on LinkedIn.
Connect with Phil on LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is now accepting monthly - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Episode 59 - The One With Porgs, Porgs, Porgs!

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 05:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, we discuss our favorite Mario Kart 64 characters. Also, seriously, Porgs. Love them. Hate them. You gotta have an opinion on them! And if you don't know what a Porg is, well, we can't be friends.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Alphabet is training law enforcement on how to handle self-driving car crashes [Recode]

Official 43 page PDF document

2. Twitter Users Will Soon Be Able To Bookmark Tweets and Save Them For Later [Adweek]

Recommended using #FiveFavorites by Patrick Jervis

3. Nintendo could be working on a Game Boy Classic Mini [Mobile Syrup]

4 Apple Leak Reveals Massive New iPhone Cancellation [Forbes]

5. (Hot Topic) Snapchat Is Twice as Popular as Instagram When It Comes to Teens' Favorite Social Apps [Adweek]

Honorable Mention(s)

Beware of Apple ID Prompts in Third Party Apps [Cult of Mac]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Mark Zuckerberg's VR trip to Puerto Rico is the height of tastelessness [The Next Web]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@jameswb94

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Google Pixel/IO (2017)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 16:00:00 +0000

On this week's (very special) second episode, we cover all the new announcements Google's latest Pixel/IO event! We're talking all things Pixel 2, Google Home Mini (and Max) and more! Also, Amir is really excited about AI. We're talking more than he is about drones normally.

This is not your standard episode of Five Favorites!

Topics Discussed:

1. Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

2. Home Mini and Max

3. Pixelbook

4. Pixel Buds

5. Google Clip

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 58 - The One With A Final Away Message

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, we say goodbye to our friend AOL Instant Messenger. Also, our hosts remember their old instant messenger names.

What was/were yours?

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Selfie Factories: The Rise of the Made-for-Instagram Museum [Wired]

2. 5G isn't just faster - it will open a whole new world [Venturebeat]

3. Netflix is Raising its Prices [@Mashable]

4 An MLB Team is using the iPhone's NFC Feature for Contactless Stadium Entry [TechCrunch]

5. One Last Away Message [AOL Instant Messenger Tumblr]

Honorable Mention(s)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Trailer to Debut During Halftime on ESPN's Monday Night Football

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Amazon's new iPhone Dongle is now cheaper than Belkin's

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

Twitter - via a Twitter moment
- Original tweet by @MaddieJo_13
- Recommended using #FiveFavorites by Patrick Jervis

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 143 - Rachel Thompson (@RachelintheOC)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 15:09:00 +0000

Rachel Thompson is the founder of BadRedhead Media. Prior to founding BadRedHeadmedia (@BadRedheadMedia), she also worked as a Senior pharma rep and sales trainer. She has been a consistent blogger and currently serves as a Founding Director for presentHER.

In addition, she runs the #Sexabusechat - in an issue that is both very close and personal to her.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Rachel on Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is currently considering sponsors - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Episode 57 - The One Where We Recommend You Turn Off Your Amazon Echo Device

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 01:43:18 +0000

On this week's episode, we highly recommend you turn off your Alexa device prior to the hot topic. Also, Chris is excited that a Jedi liked his tweet this week.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Twitter to Test Doubling Tweet Length to 280 Characters [NYTimes]

2. ELON MUSK'S ROCKET TRAVEL PLAN IS DEF POSSIBLE, DEF BANANAS [Wired]

3. Instagram Now Has 500 Million Daily Active Users, 800 Million Users per Month [Variety]

4. Walmart partners with smart lock maker August to test in-home delivery of packages and groceries [TechCrunch]

5. Hot Topic: Amazon Echo Event Recap
*includes information from The Verge and Android Central

Honorable Mention(s)

Kid Walks Into A Gamestop, Two NFL Players Buy Him An XBox

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Apple now sells an iPhone dongle with a headphone jack and charging port

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@TheEllenShow

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 142 - Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 13:27:58 +0000

Jason Shemmel is Social Media Manager for HarperCollins Christian Publishing. He's also the host of the Get S*** done Podcast. In addition to these roles, he's also a moderator for Social media Marketing (a group with over 1,600,000 members on LinkedIn) and recently returned from #CMWorld.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Jason on Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is currently considering sponsors - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Episode 56 - The One Where Mark Hamill is Not Your Father

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 05:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Google makes a (few) appearances prior to its October 4th event. Also, Chris has a new addition to announce!

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Nest's home security system costs $499 and comes with magnetic door sensors [The Verge]

2. Meet The Really Cheap Google Home Mini and the really expensive Chromebook Pixel 3 [ARS Technica]

3. Bose adds Google Assistant to top noise-canceling headphone [CNet]

4. Apple Watch Series 3 has LTE problems: How to cancel your preorder [VentureBeat]

5. Hot Topic: Why Google is spending $1.1 billion to 'acqhire' 2,000 HTC engineers [Recode]

Honorable Mention(s)

Netflix Sent the Best Cease-and-Desist Letter to This Unauthorized Stranger Things Bar

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Facebook's reliance on software algorithms keeps getting the company into trouble

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@HamillHimself
- Suggested by Martin Lieberman

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 141 - Jason Eng (@JasonEng_)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:36:16 +0000

Jason Eng works at IBM on Developer Communications and Influencer Engagement. He previously worked at Sony for over 10 years. He has clear beliefs in the way he uses social media and is one of the most engaging guests to join the podcast in recent weeks. It also turns out that he met host Chris Barrows - in 2015 - before Chris even knew it!

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Jason on Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is currently considering sponsors - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Apple Keynote Edition (2017)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 18:11:51 +0000

On this week's (very special) second episode, we cover all the new announcements from Apple's latest Keynote event including the new Apple X (that's ten, not an X). Don't try to tell someone in an Apple Store otherwise.

This is not your standard episode of Five Favorites!

Topics Discussed:

1. New Apple Park HQ

2. Apple Watch 3 Series GPS + Cellular

3. Apple TV 4K

4. Apple iPhone 8 Apple + iPhone 8 Plus

5. Apple iPhone X

6. AirPower Wireless Charging Mat

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 55 - The One With Not-So-Super Mario

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, we are equally amused and disturbed by what people search after viewing the latest Super Mario video game trailer. Also, there's no Apple here - stay tuned later today for a special Five Favorites Apple Keynote episode!

This week's Five Favorites:

1. GoPro Hero 6 Black leaks again, will shoot 240 fps slow motion at 1080p [The Verge]

2. Google's Next Pixel Smartphones Arrive October 4th [Engadget]

3. Nike and the NBA unveil connected jerseys… and they're super cool [TechCrunch]

4. SHOCK DATA: Thousands React to Mario's Nipples in Super Mario Odyssey Promotion [Brandwatch] (thanks to Five Favorite's listener, Jeff Higgins, for the heads-up)

5. Hot Topic: Google and Alphabet Poised To Invest $1 Billion In Lyft [Gas2]

Honorable Mention(s)

No More Autoplay Video in Chrome

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Has Set a New Bar for Tech CEO Weirdness

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@ComicPrintUK

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 140 - Brett Pucino (@bpucino)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Brett Pucino is a Brand Strategist and Career Brand Consultant at Breakthrough Career Coaching. In addition to his work as career services professional, he also works as a ghostwriter. He has been interested in writing since he was young and has proven to be a skilled one both digitally and in-print (though you may not have even known you've read this work!).

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Brett on Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is currently considering sponsors - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Five Favorites (Ep. 54) - The One Where We Kick-Off Season 2

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, your hosts kick-off the new season of Five Favorites! Also, Chris debates whether Apple's new facial unlock will be able to tell if it's him with and without makeup.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. New iPhone names are reportedly iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus [CNet]

2. Settlers of Catan is ready for virtual reality [VentureBeat]

3. Even more US adults now getting news from social media, says Pew [TechCrunch]

4. Drones Play Increasing Role in Harvey Recovery Efforts [Wall Street Journal]

5. Hot Topic: [CNet]

Honorable Mention(s)

Tesla flips a switch to increase the range of some cars in Florida to help people evacuate [TechCrunch]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

A bunch of pranksters (as per Lilitz Borough Police Department)

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@Madonna

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 139 - Jenn Patel (@thejennpatel)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Patel is Senior Director (of Community Development) for Union Health (LLC). With a current professional focus on training and community, I had the pleasure of running into Jenn at Innocon in New York City. In addition to her time in community development, Patel has also worked at St. John's and Hofstra University.

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or Google
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Jenn on Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

Interested in being a part of the Why I Social family? Why I Social is currently considering sponsors - inquire at @WhyISocial@gmail.com for additional information.

Episode 53 - The One With Four Loko and A First Season

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, we celebrate one year of the Five Favorites podcast. Also, Zonozi gets ready to tie the knot! If you aren't driving - bust out a drink for this one - and let's celebrate.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. YouTube gets a new logo, Material Design on desktop, and more mobile app features [VentureBeat]

2. Instagram Posts With Multiple Photos Can now be Portrait or Landscape [AdWeek]

3. Here's everything we learned from Uber's first all-staff meeting with its new CEO today [Recode]

4. Google ARCore Brings Augmented Reality to Android [VRScout]

5. Hot Topic: Microsoft and Amazon partner to integrate Alexa and Cortana digital assistants [The Verge]

Honorable Mention(s)

Amazon Cuts Whole Foods Prices as Much as 43% on First Day [Bloomberg]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Our favorite picks of the first season

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

@PJWiss

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 138 - Jackie Vetrano (@JackieVetrano)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 19:57:47 +0000

Jackie Vetrano is the Social Media Coordinator for Skidmore College. In addition to being a member of host Chris Barrows' eduWeb team this year, she has also served as Customer Service Manager (for Merit Inc.) and has worked in social media since 2013.

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Jackie on Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Learn more at Zoomph.com

Episode 52 - The One Where We Go Totally Cellular

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, we anticipate our one-year anniversary episode next week. Also, we get a bit passionate about the state of influencer marketing. Just a little bit, though (that's what she said).

This week's Five Favorites:

1. We might know the iPhone 8 keynote date [Cult Of Mac]

2. SNES Classic pre-orders are skipping Toys R Us [SlashGear]

3. Introducing Linkedin Video [LinkedIn]

4. Android O is now officially Android Oreo [The Verge]

5. Hot Topic: Samsung Galaxy Note Announces Features, Price and Release Date [The Verge]

Honorable Mention(s)

Twitter helps flood victims in Houston [USA Today]
- As an aside, our thoughts and prayers to all those who have been impacted.

DISHonorable Mention(s)

"My Eyes Hurt" search on Google following eclipse [The Next Web]

Five Favorites' Tweet(s) of The Week

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 137 - Cat Trestini (@cattrestini)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Cat Trestini is a freelance social media strategist living in the Orlando area. Cat's New Jersey roots remain strong - including her time at Rutgers - and has made a major impact on her career. She also recently returned from Joel Renner (Episode 29)'s latest Social Roadtrip.

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Cat on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Episode 51 - The One With A Total Eclipse on Facebook

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Martin Lieberman plays the role of Amir Zonozi for a week. Also, neither one of us has a clue what we're doing for the eclipse.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. New Feature Lets You Make Voice Calls On Your Google Home [Google]

2. Applebee's tried to be cool, failed, and now it's moving on with its life [QZ]

3. NASA will stream 360 degree video of eclipse [Business Insider]

4. Google Brings Q/A to Google Maps [TechCrunch]

5. Hot Topic: Apple sets $1 billion budget for original TV shows [Engadget]

Honorable Mention(s)

Some hero put the Snapchat hot dog in the 'Baby Driver' trailer and made it so much better [USA Today]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

An unlucky photographer at Fenway

Five Favorites' Tweet of The Week

@Yankees

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 136 - Jason Boucher (@PortsmouthJay)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Jason Boucher is Senior Manager and Digital Content Strategist at the University of New Hampshire. Boucher served as a track chair for the conference, is a craft beer fan and a collector of vinyl records.

His episode was recorded live from the eduWeb Digital Summit - which also featured speakers such as alumni Chris Bryant and Katy Spencer Johnson. The conference is also co-chaired by alum Joel Renner.

But this episode is all about Jason, his story and how he got to where he is today.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Episode 50 - The One Where We Hear The Buzz of Twitter

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris has an apology. Also, Snap is in trouble...again.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Yet another video claims to offer a look at the iPhone 8's design in black [9to5Mac]

2. Facebook's willingness to copy rivals' apps seen as hurting innovation [Washington Post]

3. Another record low for Snap after 14% drop post-earnings [TechCrunch]

4. BuzzFeed is launching a live news show on Twitter [Axios]

5. SoundCloud Gets 170 Million Lifeline [Arstechnica]

Honorable Mention(s)

Nest's first Solar Eclipse Rush Hour [Nest]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Guy Who Scheduled 6 Dates In One Night Was Kicked Out of Another Bar for Allegedly Hitting On All The Women [Washingtonian]

Five Favorites' Tweet of The Week

@Jankowski

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature). Tune into Honorable Mentions on WhyISocial.com for all the links we didn't discuss.

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 49 - The One With A Hottie (with a poddy)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 19:53:42 +0000

On this week's episode, we gave you access to the episode a day early because we're nice guys (and Chris is busy running eduWeb Digital Summit this week). Also, it's rumored that Google offered 30 billion for Snapchat. Serious cash. We would have taken it.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Hottie with a poddy: VCs give Gimlet the greenlight [The Hustle]

2. Spotify crosses 60M paid subscribers as it prepares to go public later this year [The Verge]

3. Reddit Raised $200 Million And Is Redesigning to Look More Like Facebook [Gizmodo]

4. RED's upcoming $1,200 smartphone is enormous [The Verge]

5. Hot Topic: Insiders say Google was interested in buying Snap for at least $30 billion last year [Business Insider]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

YouTube star Jake Paul is terrorizing his neighborhood by being a little asshole [AV Club]
Please stop playing Pokemon Go in Cemeteries [Android Central]

Five Favorites' Tweet of The Week

@DCComics

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 135 - Maggie Rimnac (@chitownmags)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Maggie Rimnac is a digital marketing specialist at Motivation Excellence. When she isn't taking the lead on all digital marketing properties for Motivation Excellence - you may find her at the gym power-lifting or building and participating communities of women on social media (and beyond).

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Maggie on Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing with real-times streaming analytics. Our platform provides you with an end-to-end solution to ignite your content, your marketing, and your business from start to finish.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 48 - The One With Fun Fun Fun Fun!

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, we have a lot of fun. Really, it's not an understatement. There's a lot of fun in this episode. Do a shot every time we say fun and you'll realize how much fun we have. Also, we go into Taco Mode at one point.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. The Tesla Model 3 interior doesn't look like any car you've ever seen [The Verge]

2. YouTube's head of music confirms YouTube Red and Google Play Music will merge to create a new service [The Verge]

3. UPS Store Stops Printing from URLs and USB Sticks Ahead of Def Con Hacking Convention [The Verge]

4. So long, Flash: Adobe will kill plug-in by 2020 [CNN - Money]

5. Hot Topic: Jeff Bezos Briefly Tops Bill Gates as the World's Richest Person [Bloomberg]

Honorable Mention(s)

Lyft's "Taco Mode" lets you take a stop at Taco Bell for late-night cravings [The Verge]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Apple Says So Long to the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle [Apple]

Five Favorites' Tweet of The Week

@MerriamWebster

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 134 - Dave Banks (@DaveBanks)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 02:22:40 +0000

Dave Banks is President of Think Tank Marketing and an editor at GeekDad.com. He's also moderated panels at SXSWedu, PAX East and PAX West. He (and his daughter) have also conducted interviews at SDCC.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Dave on Twitter.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 47 - The One With Spark

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 06:30:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir has strong feelings about Best Buy. Also, Pokemon Go channels it's inner Fyre Festival.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. YouTube is getting rid of its video editor because no one uses it [The Verge]

2. HDMI 2.1 - What You Need To Know [CNet]

3. Apple Shows Off New Emojis on World Emoji Day [TechCrunch]

4. Amazon Launches Spark, a shoppable feed of stories and photos [TechCrunch]

5. Hot Topic: Why The Grim Reaper of Retail Hasn't Come To Claim Best Buy [LATimes]

Honorable Mention(s)

You Can Get Emotional ABout Game of Thrones. Just know HBO is Listening [Mashable]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Pokemon Go's First real-world event was a disaster [Business Insider]

Five Favorites' Tweet of The Week

@Adweek (with credit to Square)

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 46 - The One Where Amir Is Late

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 03:59:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir is very late. Also, winter would have come - if Amir wasn't late.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Amazon May Give App Developers Access to Alexa Audio Recordings [The Verge]

2. Amazon Sold 3x as many Echo Devices During Prime Day As It Did Last Year [AdWeek]

3. Facebook Makes Messenger Ads Available Globally [Social Media Today]

4. Twitter Users Sue President Trump [New York Times]

5. Hot Topic: We're All Ears - What's Up With Sound Cloud? (multiple sources)

Honorable Mention(s)

Cards Against Humanity for Her [AdWeek]

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Ai Gone Bad with iPhone 6 Cases + Amazon [Mashable]

Five Favorites' Tweet of The Week

@ItsJeffHiggins and @Delta

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 133 - Paul Spratt (@PaulSpratt)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 15:39:48 +0000

Paul Spratt is a stand-up comedian living in New York City. Originally from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, Paul moved to NYC (with a bit of advice from comedian Bill Burr...more about that on the podcast) and has been building his career in the city that never sleeps.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Paul on Twitter.

If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 132 - Patrick Jervis Jr. (@pjervis)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 13:46:26 +0000

Patrick Jervis, Jr. is an award-winning social media and brand manager at East Valley Institute of Technology. In addition to his full-time work, he also is the owner of Respectfully Yours Photography and EyePlay Design. I'm grateful to feature Patrick on the show as he has been one of the longest running supporters of the podcast, as well as a great example of social media done right.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Patrick on Linkedin and Twitter.

Stephan was recommended to the podcast by Bostonian and alum, Martin Lieberman. If you know someone who deserves their story told, let me know! Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 45 - The One With Gaby's Boyfriend

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, our hosts get off to a late start thanks to a Balrog. Also, we share helpful hints (completely kidding, kind of) on how to escape jail using a drone.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Uber tipping is rolling out to 121 U.S. and Canadian markets today [TechCrunch)

2. Nielsen: On-demand audio streaming hits record high, is up 62.4% over last year [TechCrunch]

3. Snapchat lets you add links, voice filters and backdrops to Snaps [TechCrunch]

4. RED is making a $1,200 smartphone with a 'holographic display' [The Verge]

5. Hot Topic: Everything you need to know about Tesla Model 3, which is starting production [The Verge]

Honorable Mention(s)

Here's how to get $5 back if you registered your drone with the FAA

DISHonorable Mention(s)

An inmate in South Carolina used a drone to escape from maximum-security prison (Mashable)

Five Favorites' Tweet of The Week

@VancityReynolds

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 131 - Stephan Hovnanian (@stephanhov)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Stephan Hovnanian is Content Solutions Architect at Bambu (by Sprout Social). He previously owned and operate Shovi Websites for over 16 years. In a highlight of this episode, he shares some advice all those looking to begin a new business should listen to before they get started.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Stephan on Linkedin.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 44 - The One Where We Play With Fyre

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 15:25:26 +0000

On this week's episode, we play with Fyre. Also, we're slightly underwhelmed by a number of good stories this week after a blitz of stories the past few weeks. There's normally more humor here - but we're just being honest with you.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube Announce Formation of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (YouTube)

2. Designing custom geofilters for Snapchat just got easier (Mashable)

3. First Look at SNES Hardware (Polygon)

21 Games included (Polygon)

4. Facebook Crosses 2 Billion Monthly Active Users (The Verge)

5. Hot Topic: Fyre Festival Organizer Arrested on Fraud Charges (The Verge)

Honorable Mention(s)

Nick Offerman (Parks and Rec) Gets Social (Nerdist)

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Kickstarter Project: Mini Smart Nightlight (The Verge)

Tweet of The Week

@BradChacos

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 130 - Jeff Higgins (@ItsJeffHiggins)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 11:35:32 +0000

Jeff Higgins is Director of Social Media at Bloomerang Solutions. He's lived most of his life in Florida, much of it near Anna Maria (though he did spend some time in Philadelphia). His active social presence is hard to miss as he's one of the most engaging persons I've had the opportunity to meet thanks to social media.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Jeff on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 43 - The One With The Amazon WarDrone

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, we invent a new Amazon product. Also, Ken (yes, that Ken) gets a man bun.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Wireless and drone execs praised President Trump as he pledged to cut down regulations (Recode)

2. Netflix now has more subscribers than Cable TV in the US (VentureBeat)

3. Instagram Stories Hits 250 Million Daily Users, Adds Live Video Replays (TechCrunch)

4. Amazon Prime Wardrobe will let you try on clothes before you buy them (The Verge)

5. Hot Topic:

Time Warner just handed Snapchat a $100 million lifeline (CNBC)
Major Lazer and Bacardi Put Snapchat Users Into The Spotlight (Music Week)
Twitch nabs exclusive streaming deal with Blizzard for 20+ major e-sports events (TechCrunch)

Honorable Mention(s)

University of Tennessee professor's response to student's absence sweeps Twitter (12 News Arizona)

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Ken Gets A Manbun

Tweet of The Week

@MartinLieberman

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 129 - James Ho (@_JamesHo)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +0000

James Ho is a Customer Service Specialist at Zoomph. He's a recent graduate of George Mason University and has also interned with the Washington Redskins prior to joining the Zoomph team. James also spends his spare time coaching lacrosse.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with James on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 42 - The One With The Meaning Of Life

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, we debate the meaning of life ("The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything is 42"). Also, Amazon continues the march towards world domination.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Tim Cook Says Apple Focused on Autonomous Systems in Cars Push (Apple)

2. Snapchat seduces advertisers with new self-serve tools and certified partners (TechCrunch)

3. Twitter's New Look (Twitter)

4. Katy Perry's Witness World Wide Generated Over 49 Million Views (Billboard)

5. Hot Topic: Amazon Acquires Whole Foods for $13.7 Billion

Honorable Mention(s)

Uber CEO To Take Leave

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Crystal Meth + Facebook = Arrested

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 128 - Matt Marcinek (@DisabledGrapplr)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 11:01:39 +0000

Matt Marcinek is a performance coach, a combat athlete and a motivational speaker. He's also the creator of www.disabledgrappler.com. Having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 9 months old - he has inspired many over the course of his career. Ask him and he won't tell you he's defied any odds, he's simply worked hard and continues to do so today.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Matt on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 41 - The One All About #WWDC17

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 13:29:05 +0000

On this week's (very special) second episode, we cover all the greatest new announcements from Apple's #WWDC17 Event. This is not your standard episode of Five Favorites!

Links for this episode are from The Verge.

Announcements Discussed:

1. Apple Homepod

2. iMac Pro

3. iOS11

4. ARKIT

5. New iPad

6. New OS: "High Sierra"

7. New Watch OS

8. And some extras...

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 40 - The One With(out) DirectTV Now

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, we have a dramatic reading involving pizza and a college application. Also, we pay our respects to Adam West.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Customers Are Already Abandoning DIRECTV Now (The Motley Fool)

2. Apple Is Going To Let Podcast Creators - and advertisers - see what listeners actually like (Recode)

3. Microsoft XBox at E3 - The 6 Biggest Disappointments (The Verge)

4. It's official: Yahoo shareholders approve the $4.48 billion sale to Verizon (Business Insider)

5. Hot Topic: Apple Marketing Executive Bozoma Saint John is Joining Uber as its Chief Brand Officer (Recode)

Honorable Mention(s)

Teen Writes Essay About Papa Johns, Gets Into Yale

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Taylor Swift Is Back On Spotify

Tweet/Post of the Week

Martin Lieberman

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 127 - Eric Stoller (@EricStoller)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 13:22:49 +0000

Eric Stoller is a higher education consultant, writer, and speaker. He currently serves as a writer/blogger for InsideHigherEd.com and is a soon-to-be father! He is also arguably one of the best-known thought leaders in the higher education space.

Hear his story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Eric on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 39 - The One With Lots of Covfefe

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, our honorable mention is a user-requested session around this week's favorite internet topic (#covfefe). Also, Wonder Woman is a terrific film - wonderful even - so go see it.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple WWDC 2017: What to expect (CNet)

2. Google Is Building An Ad-Blocker Into Chrome (Social Media Today)

3. Elon Must, Google and others decry Paris accord decision (VentureBeat)

4. Microsoft Redesigns Skype (The Verge)

5. Hot Topic: Facebook Live Audio Rolling Out Discussion
*no articles at time of recording*

Honorable Mention(s)

Our favorite #covfefe memes (per listener request!)

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Netflix Leaving The Battle for Net Neutrality

Tweet/Post of the Week

@GoGoogleMe

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 126 - Emily Miethner (@emilymiethner)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 31 May 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Emily Miethner is CEO and Founder of FindSpark. In addition, she's an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the School of Visual Arts (both in New York City). In her spare time, she also lends her talents to her alma mata, Hofstra University, as part of their Women In Leadership Advisory Board.

Hear her story on this week's episode. And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 38 - The One Where Zuck Finally Gets His Harvard Diploma

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 30 May 2017 05:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Dave Chappelle gets the respect he deserves. Also, we delay the episode one day because this podcast would not exist without the men and women who have died for the United States of America. Thank you to those who have/do serve.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Zuckerberg Tells Harvard We Need A New Social Contract of Equal Opportunity (TechCrunch)

2. Instagram Direct Now Supports Web Links and Different Photo Orientations (TechCrunch)

3. Nest's Next Generation Security Camera Could Shoot 4k Resolution (Digital Trends)

4. Snapchat Bought A Drone Company (The Next Web)

5. DJI Unveils Spark (BHPhotoVideo)

Honorable Mention(s)

Thoughts and prayers to Uber CEO Travis Kalanick (and family) on the loss of his mother.

DISHonorable Mention(s)

NBA Disses Dave Chappelle w/ tweet

Tweet/Post of the Week

Alissa Trumbull (@AnOrchidInBloom)

Links not included in show notes - including additional mentions - will be included in the Honorable Mentions blog post.

Episode 125 - Jason Falls (@JasonFalls)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 23 May 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Jason Falls is a leading digital strategist, author, speaker and thinker in the digital and social media marketing industry. An innovator in conversation research, Falls leads the Conversation Research Institute, a think-tank and consultancy focused on mining online conversations for consumer insight and market research.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Jason on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 37 - The One Where Chris Oogles Over Google

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 22 May 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir's lungs battle a smart bottle. Also, we talk about some of (not all, because that would take forever) the announcements from Google IO.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple Plans Laptop Upgrades to Take On Microsoft (Bloomberg)

2. Facebook Lands Deal to Stream 20 MLB Games Live (Business Insider)

3. Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram Notifications - In One Space (TechCrunch)

4. Twitter Co-Founder Biz Stone is Returning To The Company (TechCrunch)

5. All IO17 Announcements (Google)

Honorable Mention(s)

'Accidental hero' halts ransomware attack and warns: this is not over

DISHonorable Mention(s)

New Apple Campus - 100k Sq Ft Gym, No Daycare?

Tweet/Post of the Week

@Katyb_Spencer

Episode 124 - Ted Bauer (@tedbauer2003)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 16 May 2017 02:59:26 +0000

Ted is a freelance writer, editor, and marketer. His passion for writing is clear from the moment you meet him and he has embraced social media as an opportunity to meet new people both digitally and in-person.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Ted on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 36 - The One Where Steve Harvey Keeps It Real

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 15 May 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, we show appreciation to Moms...and Derek Jeter.. Also, you're right, we forgot to use the womp womp womp sound for dishonorable. We're sorry. We promise it will be back next week.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple Sends Out Press Invites WWDC Keynotes on June 5th (Mac Rumors)

2. Facebook's Rolling Out Group Membership Questions to Improve Filtering Process (Social Media Today)

3. Snap Stock Tanks After IPO Expenses Run Up A $2.2 Billion Loss for the First Quarter (CNBC)

4. YouTube Is Pouring Millions Into Content Creation and Shows (WERSM)

5. Hot Topic: Amazon Unveils the $230 Echo Show, with a screen for calls, shipping June 28th (TechCrunch)

Honorable Mention(s):

Steve Harvey Keeps It Real

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Dove's New Body Wash Bottles Match Body Types (Business Insider)

Tweet/Post of the Week

Chris Bryant (The_ChrisBryant)

Episode 123 - Jeremiah Barba (@jeremiahdbarba)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 09 May 2017 13:20:13 +0000

Jeremiah Barba is a digital marketing manager at Up&Up. He received both his bachelor and master degrees from Bob Jones University. Jeremiah is an experienced speaker/presenter who recently presented at CASE SMC in Los Angelos. He will also be one-half of an upcoming workshop at the eduWeb Digital Summit this August.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Jeremiah and I discuss:

How the arts led him to the marketing profession
How he ended up living in Hawaii for a year
Why listening is so important to him

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Jeremiah on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 35 - The One Where We Get On Bored With Elon Musk

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 08 May 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris have strong feelings about Hulu's new redesign. They also strongly consider following Nicki Minaj on Twitter.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple's Siri Speaker Could Be Announced at WWDC In June (The Verge)

2. The $999 Surface Laptop is Microsoft's Expensive Answer to Chromebooks (TechCrunch)

3. Domino's Taps IFTTT to Deactivate Your Garden Sprinkler Automatically In Time for Your Pizza Delivery (The Verge)

4. Watch How Elon Musk's Boring Company Tunnels Will Move Cars Faster (TechCrunch)

5. (Hot Topic) Hands-On With Hulu's New Live TV Service (TechCrunch)

Honorable Mention(s):

Nicki Minaj Makes Good On Her Offer To Help Pay Over A Dozen Students' College Tuition and Loans (TMZ)

DISHonorable Mention(s)

The Google Doc Email Heard Round The World including
- The person who thought starting with the fake email as HHHHH was a good idea
- Anyone who clicked it (but seriously, we love you)

Tweet/Post of the Week

Jeff Higgins

Episode 122 - Inspirational Stories from the Archives

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 02 May 2017 01:26:07 +0000

This week on Why I Social, we go back in time to some of the inspirational stories and moments that provide insights into how we can change our own lives. The episodes were pick based on feedback I've heard over the years but are far from the only moments worth going back to.

Featured in this collection of great advice and motivational moments is:

Ahna Hendrix (Episode 58) on the importance of doing other things outside of your business as an entrepreneur, as well as the importance of putting your health and wellness first.
Zoomph CEO Ali Reza Manouchehri (Episode 47) on focus, self-reflection and avoiding YES men.

Danny Vecchiarelli (Episode 109) on discovering what he wanted to do and his path to owning a barbershop.
Tracy Soren and Jesse Jolles (Episode 70) discuss how getting out of one's comfort zone helped them meet one another and form a professional partnership.
Tim Smyth (Episode 89) on how he brought his passion, comic books, into the classroom.

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 34 - The One With Squad Goals

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 01 May 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris have squad goals. Also, if you want to play a drinking game, take a shot every time Amir says Yaaaas.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Amazon's Echo Look is a voice assistant with a camera, because that's not creepy (VentureBeat)

2. 700 Million Monthly Active Users and Counting for Instagram (AdWeek)

3.. 800 Hours of Live Premium Video was Viewed by 45 million viewers in Q1 2017, up 31% + Emoji Search (VentureBeat)

4. Yik Yak Is Closing (Yik Yak)

5. Hot Topic: "Rich Kids of Instagram Meets Hunger Games" #FyreFestival (Telegraph)

Honorable Mention(s):

Chicken Nugget Kid versus Ellen (Huffington Post)

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Galaxy S8 Randomly Restarting (The Next Web)

Tweet/Post of the Week

Lena Schurmann (via Facebook Comment)

Sessions - Episode 7 (Twitter and the Edit Button)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the seventh episode of Why I Social Sessions - where we bring you short discussions focused on one singular topic. This is not your standard Why I Social episode where we learn about a guest - but instead - we focus on important topics impacting the social media space today.

Today, on Why I Social Sessions, #FiveFavorites co-host Amir Zonozi joins me to talk about the pros and cons of a Twitter button. We also discuss if we think we'll ever get a Twitter edit button.

On Episode 7

1. What are the pros of an edit button?

2. What are the cons of an edit button?

3. Do we believe that an edit button is in Twitter's future?

Following the conversation:

I'd encourage you to use the hashtag #WISSessions to share your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook.

This Week's Question(s):

Do you think Twitter needs an edit button?

Episode 121 - Ijeoma Nwatu Enemanna (@ijeomasnwatu)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Ijeoma Nwatu Enemanna is a self-employed freelance consultant in the Washington DC metro area. She joins the show following a recommendation from #FiveFavorites co-host Amir Zonozi. She has a BS from George Mason University and (officially) began her professional career in 2009.

Hear her story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Ijeoma and I discuss:

The path that led her to freelance full-time
How she motivates herself personally and professionally
What it was like to land that first client

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Ijeoma on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 33 - The One With A One-Star Rating

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris avoid all things in the PR Disaster category - as best as they can at least. Also, a lot of people (still) copy Snapchat.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. The Samsung Galaxy S8 (Video)

2. The FTC Has A Reminder for Brands and Influencers (FTC)

3. Netflix Says It's Competing With Sleep, Not Amazon or Hulu (Fox News)

4. Snapchat Drops to One-Star On App Store (The Hindu)

5. Hot Topic: Facebook's F8 Conference

Honorable Mention(s):

Twitter user (Brady fan) asks ESPN to Block Him Over Photo Request

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Starbuck's and Backlash (from employees) against Unicorn Frappuccinos

Tweet of the Week

@Kaychatz

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature). Tune in to Honorable Mentions on WhyISocial.com for all the links we didn't discuss.

Episode 120 - JMatt (JMattMKE)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 02:42:13 +0000

JMatt is a DJ at@1037KISSFM . In addition to his work at the station as a weekend DJ, he's also a social media marketer who has a passion for social media.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, JMatt and I discuss:

How to break into the radio business
The importance of mental health
His dream job

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Thomas on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 32 - The One With Mother F'ng Scorpions on a Mother F'ing Plane

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris can't avoid making United jokes. Also, Amir broke his drone (again).

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple Rebrands iTunes Podcasts as Apple Podcasts (9to5Mac)

2. Multi-user Support Coming to Google Home (Business Insider)

3. Burger King's New Ad Will Hijack Your Voice-Activated Speaker (Buzzfeed)

4. Instagram Updates - New Stickers and More (Instagram Blog)

5. Hot Topic: United Airlines

Spice/Pepsi/United Joke (original tweet by @LanceBradley)
Scorpion Stings Man On United Flight (NBC LA)

Honorable Mention(s):

College Kid Trolls Southwest Airlines And Their Response Is Perfect

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Too many to pick this week - tune in to hear!

Tweet of the Week

@IAmDaniHubner

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 119 - Damond Nollan (@DamondNollan)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 07:00:00 +0000

This week's episode was recorded at the Kurogo Mobile Conference in Orlando Florida and features Damond Nollan. Damond is IT Director for Web Services at North Carolina Central University. He's also a (proud) father of three.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Damond and I discuss:

How he ended up working in IT Services
His role and methodologies as a manager
His takeaways from the Kurogo Mobile Conference

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Thomas on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Five Favorites (Ep. 31) - The One With The Fortune Cookie

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris debate the value of a recent fortune cookie. Also, the importance of the Walking Dead to OTT is confirmed.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. The Mac Pro Lives (Daring Fireball)

2. YouTubers Will Need At Least 10,000 Views To Make Ad Money (Engadget)

3. Twitter unveils a new API platform, roadmap and vision for its developer community (TechCrunch)

4. YouTube TV Launches in 5 Cities, Inks Deal with AMC (Variety)

5. Hot Topic: Pepsi Pulls Ad Accused of Trivializing Black Lives Matter (New York Times)

Honorable Mention(s):

Student Burned His College With Two Words On Twitter, And Is Now A Social Media Celebrity

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Women falls off California's highest bridge while taking selfie

Tweet of the Week

@desertronin

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 118 - Chris Bryant (@The_ChrisBryant)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Chris Bryant is Creative Director at Empire Studios (formally, Bryant Productions). He is also one of the first persons to support the podcast and has been an ambassador for the show since it's inception.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Chris and I discuss:

Life working as a home theater designer
The start and evolution of Bryant Productions
His process of working/choosing clients

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Connect with Thomas on Linkedin.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 30 - The One Where We Talk About Leggings...Yasss!

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, the jokes are everywhere (because it's April Fools day). Also, leggings. Are they pants? Aren't they? You decide.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Amazon quietly launches it's own social media influencer program (TechCrunch)

2. Google Pixel 3 is Coming Next Year (BGR)

3. SpaceX has proven it can reuse rockets - now what? (Popular Science)

4. A Social Update

5. Hot Topic: April Fools

Honorable Mention(s):

Delta Tweet (in relation to DISHonorable mention) (People)

DISHonorable Mention(s)

How Two Teens In Leggings Became a PR Mess for United Airlines (CNBC)

Tweet of the Week

@Katyb_spencer

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 117 - Thomas Mathew (@thomasamathew)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 10:12:26 +0000

Thomas Mathew is Chief Product Officer at Zoomph. Thomas holds an MS in computational linguistics from Georgetown University and a BTech in electronics engineering from Cochin University.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Thomas and I discuss:

His journey to Zoomph
How he became interested in computational linguistics
The difference between working with start-ups and corporations

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 29 - The One With Brad's Wife

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 01:27:52 +0000

On this week's episode, our co-hosts abide and make Brad's Wife the show's hot topic. Also, Chris can't read his own notes.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Amazon's Ambitions Unboxed (New York Times)

2. Instagram Updates

Instagram has 1 million advertisers (Marketingland)
Instagram Lets You Save Live Videos (The Verge)

3. Analyst says iPhone 8 will cause a 'paradigm shift' because of Apple's lead in AR tech (9to5mac.com)

4. Congress Moves To Strike Internet Privacy Rules from Obama Era (New York Times)

5. Hot Topic: Brad's Wife Got Fired From Cracker Barrel (Bored Panda)

Note: Not #FiveFavorites superfan Brad Parler ;)

Honorable Mention(s):

Arnold Destroys Facebook Commentator

DISHonorable Mention(s)

A Twitter Subscription Service for Power Users?

Tweet of the Week (new)

@TheNameisCasie

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

CASESMC 2017 Edition (@CaseAdvance)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 07:30:00 +0000

In a break from the usual Why I Social format - I recorded live at CASE SMC (Social Media and Community) in Los Angeles. My guests this week are two persons whom are some of my (I admit my bias here) favorite people in higher education - but also two of the most accomplished.

This Week on Why I Social meet:

Nikki Sunstrum (@NikkiSunstrum)
Tyler Thomas (@TylerAThomas)

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 28 - The One Where It's 35 Percent Smaller

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, our hosts debate whether or not they'd rather face an army of terminators or zombies (there's really no debate). Also, we discuss the value of jpegs being 35% smaller.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. 'iPad mini Pro' is reportedly one of the four new iPad Pros launching soon (BGR)

2. Google's new encoder makes JPEGs up to 35 percent smaller (The Verge)

3. Kurzweil Claims That the Singularity Will Happen by 2045 (Futurism.com)

4. Twitter got hacked — even a BBC account. Do this one thing to protect yourself (USA Today)

Also: McDonald's Tweets at Trump

5. Hot Topic: Amazon Puts Alexa In It's Main iPhone App (VentureBeat)

Honorable Mention(s):

Facebook and Twitter Try New Looks

DISHonorable Mention(s)

Tweet of the Week (new)

@BradParler

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 116 - Elliot Volkman (@TheJournalizer)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Elliot Volkman is a digital marketing manager at Blue Acorn. He also reports on technology for Tech.Co. In addition, he enjoys running and shares his story about running a half-marathon.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Elliot and I discuss:

How he decided to study journalism
Why he enjoys covering technology news
Why running is a big part of his life

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 27 - The One Where We're Not Drunk, We're Just Talking About Pornhub

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris opt to find an alternative to drinking water during the show. Also, Pornhub makes it's first appearance on the show (don't worry, it's safe to listen to).

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Pinterest Acquires Jelly (Jelly Blog via Medium)

2. Diehard Coders Saved NASA's Earth Science Data (Wired)

4. Snap's Stock Stumble (VentureBeat)

5. Hot Topic: A WHOLE Lotta Facebook

Facebook's First Virtual Reality App (TechCrunch)
Instagram Stories Have Geostickers (The Verge)
Facebook - A Day In Messenger (Facebook Blog)
Facebook Tests Dislike Button (In Messenger) (TechCrunch)
Facebook Reactions More Important Than Likes (SEJ)

Honorable Mention(s):

Hugh Jackman Thanks Fans for 17 Years of Wolverine

Honorable But Still Somewhat DIS Honorable Mention(s) - Not A Typo:

Pornhub and International Women's Day

Tweet of the Week (new)

@MartinLieberman

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 115 - Bryan Mapes (@IAmMapes)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Bryan Mapes is the winner of the XFinity Dream Job and the current Xfinity Sports Guy (tweeting from the Xfinity Sports account). His journey to a career in social media isn't what you likely expected.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Bryan and I discuss:

Where did Bryan work before his time in sports?
What was it like participating in the MLB Fan Cave tryouts?
How did he land his job with XFinity?

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 26 - The One Where Life Is Like A Hurricane

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris literally cheat the system to get in more than 5 stories. Also, Chris recaps his Social Media Week NYC experience while Zonozi gets featured on the BHPhoto Podcast.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. How A Typo Took Down S3 - The Backbone of the Internet (The Verge)

2. Nintendo Switch Users Face Hardware Issues (Polygon)

3. Social Platform News

Social Influencers Leaving Platform (Snapchat)
- Reccomended by Casie Shimansky
Facebook Chatbots Can Now Avoid Chatting (Marketing Land)
Instagram Ads Available for All (Social Media Today)
...and more!

4. Phone News

5. Hot Topic: Meet YouTubeTV

Honorable Mention(s):

Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department Facebook Post Goes Viral

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Scrapping By On Six Figures in the Silicon Valley

Tweet of the Week (new)

@TrevorIgoe

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Special Edition - Social Media Week NYC (2017)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 11:58:37 +0000

This week, I had the opportunity to be press at Social Media Week - NYC. I took the time while I was there to have a few conversations with some of the attendees. I also shared some quick thoughts on the event - which will be continued on next week's Five Favorites podcast.

On this episode, you'll get to know:

Risa Xu (@RisaXu)
Andrew Zolty (@aszolty)
Amanda Dolan (@apdolan)

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 114 - Sarah Rockholt (@sarahrockholt)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Sarah Rockholt (@Sarahrockholt) is an event planning associate at MentorMate (where alum Ryan Pena works at the time of this recording). Her career at MentorMate began as an intern and she has worked her way up through the ranks to her current role at the company.

Hear her story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Sarah and I discuss:

Why she didn't end up being a meteorologist
Why people played a big part in her career choice
How she got used to getting out of her comfort zone

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Sessions - Episode 6 (Instagram Albums)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 08:45:00 +0000

Welcome to the sixth episode of Why I Social Sessions - where we bring you short discussions focused on one singular topic. This is not your standard Why I Social episode where we learn about a guest - but instead - we focus on important topics impacting the social media space today.

Today, on Why I Social Sessions, Why I Social alum Casie Shimansky joins me to talk about the latest update to Instagram included the addition photo/video galleries.

On Episode 6

1. What does this feature mean for personal use?

2. What does this feature mean for business use?

3. How does this impact Instagram Stories, if at all?

4. What does this mean for Snapchat, if anything?

Following the conversation:

I'd encourage you to use the hashtag #WISSessions to share your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook.

This Week's Question(s):

Do you intend to use Instagram Albums? How will you use them?

Episode 25 - The One With 10,000 Skills

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:54:49 +0000

On this week's episode, an old friend reappears in Amir's life. Also, our hosts discover that Alexa is now VERY skilled.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. For Generation Z, 'Live Chilling" replaces hanging out (WSJ)

2. Alexa Passes 10,000 Skills (VentureBeat)

3. Booming Android Revenue Shows Its No Longer the Poor Cousin (The Register)

4. Snapchat Faces Tough Questions With Insiders (Business Insider)

5. Hot Topic: Instagram Will Now You Posts 10 Pictures (or videos) at Once (The Verge)

Honorable Mention(s):

Tom Brady Posts 'Suspect Board' In Relation to Missing Jersey (Yahoo Sports)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Twitter is Locking Down Accounts That Swear at People (The Verge)

Tweet of the Week (new)

Ted Mahy (@tmahy)

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).

Episode 113 - Matt Rappaport (@NYActor)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Matt Rappaport is a social media coordinator at B&H Photo Video. He has previously worked at Tech Times and the Huffington Post. He's also an actor with a passion for the industry and an experienced interviewer.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Matt and I discuss:

What was his first "social network"?
Where did his interest technology come from?
Why does he love acting?

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 24 - The One Where We're On The Rode

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 02:16:44 +0000

On this week's episode, both hosts have upgraded with some new technology in the past week. Also, drones, again. Deal with it.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. iPhone 8 To Feature 5.8 Inch OLED Display With 5.15-Inch Main Screen and Virtual Buttons Below (Mac Rumors)

2. Facebook swipes at LinkedIn by letting brands post job openings on Pages (VentureBeat)

3. More than 60 percent of Snapchat users skip ads on platform (DigiDay)

4. Say goodbye to YouTube's long, unskippable ads starting next year (Mashable)

5. (Hot Topic) PewDiePie versus WSJ

Honorable Mention(s):

Fire-spewing drones are one way to get trash off your power line (The Verge)
Aaron Gordon Struggles w/ Creative Drone Slam at 2017 All-Star Dunk Contest (Bleacher Report)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

London Dungeon deletes 'inappropriate' Valentine's Day posts (The Guardian)

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show.

Episode 112 - Martin Dull

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Martin Dull (@mgdull on Instagram) is a painting technician at the New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting & Sculpture. He's also an artist operating his own studio in Jersey City. After attending school with Martin at Marywood University in Scranton, PA - we came to realize we both worked in NYC (thanks to Facebook) - opening the door to one of the most interesting conversations in the podcast's history.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Martin and I discuss:

How did he become interested in art/painting?
What it's like to work with his father?
Why is social media important to his career as an artist?

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 23 - The One With A Missing Tooth

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris shares the story of how his son lost his first tooth. Also, the NBA pulls a page out of the NFL's social media book.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Pinterest Introduces Lens, A Shazam for Objects (The Verge)

2. Grammy's Using Snapchat to Lure Younger Viewers (DigiDay)

3. Shareholders Urge Company to Replace Zuckerberg w/ Independent Board Chair (VentureBeat)

4. YouTube Creators With 10,000+ Followers Get Mobile Livestreaming (AdWeek)

5. (Hot Topic) The Best (and Worst) of Super Bowl Commercials (Five Favorites edition)

Honorable Mention(s):

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Ghostruck, an Uber-like startup for moving, faces $730K in penalties for operating without permits

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show.

Episode 111 - Katy Spencer Johnson (@katyb_spencer)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Katy Spencer Johnson is a Communications and Marketing Agent at Quincy College (working for alum Eric Clark at the time of this recording). She is also the editor-in-Chief) of Wild Swimming New England. She spends some of her free time doing work for causes like breast cancer and volunteering at the Quincy Animal Shelter.

Hear her story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Katy and I discuss:

What it's like to work in publishing and why she changed
How she got into wild swimming
Why (and what) charity matters to her

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 22 - The One Where Chris Flies A Drone

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 05:01:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris and Amir recap their DJI/BHPhotoVideo experience in NYC. Also, listeners may find themselves wondering what Amir would look like as a soccer mom.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Twitter's NFL Stream Averages 265k Viewers (Marketingland)

2. LinkedIn Just Stole An Idea From Facebook - And It's Tremendous (Inc)

Thanks to Katy Spencer Johnson for the suggestion using #FiveFavorites!

3. Facebook Reports 8.81 billion in revenue as monthly users jump 17% (VentureBeat)

4. Amazon's Alexa Will Place That Annoyingly Long Starbucks Order For You (CNet)

5. (Hot Topic) Super Snapchat IPO update

Snapchat History 101 (Fortune)
Snapchat Officially Files for IPO (CNBC)
Snapchat QR Codes To Open Websites (TechCrunch)
Snapchat Growth Slowed 82% After Instagram Stories Launched (TechCrunch)

Honorable Mention(s):

A recap of the DJI/BHPhotoVideo Influencer Experience in NYC
- Special Shoutouts to
  - BHPhotoVideo
  - DJI
  - Matt Rappaport (upcoming Why I Social guest)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Facebook's Loss In Court Doesn't Diminish Excitement Over Growth (NYTimes)

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show.

Episode 110 - Erica Moss (@ericajmoss)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Erica Moss is a community manager at Trello. She has previously worked at Bit.ly and 2U and brings a diverse set of experience as a marketer and journalist to the show.

Hear her story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Erica and I discuss:

How she pivoted after being laid off
What made her make the move to New York from Michigan
Why she loves Slack

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 21 - The One Where Our Hosts Are Besties with Elon Musk

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir tells the story of how he lost his drone. Also, our hosts finally conclude the story of the Samsung Note 7.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple Hires Dropcam co-founder for special project (Cult of Mac)

2. Samsung Announces What Caused the Galaxy Note 7 to overheat and explode (Business Insider)

3. Facebook Stories puts a Snapchat Clone above the News Feed (TechCrunch)

4. 3D TV is Dead (Business Insider)

5. (HOT TOPIC) Silicon Valley's responses to Trump's immigration executive orders, from strongest to weakest (The Verge)

Honorable Mention(s):

With a Single Tweet, Elon Musk Showed Why You Should Lease a Tesla (Instead of Buying One) (Inc)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Martin Shkreli's Twitter account suspended after he posts creepy photo collage (Mashable)

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show.

Episode 109 - Daniel Vecchiarelli

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Daniel Vecchiarelli is the owner of Bello by Daniel Ross. He's been building his career since he started cutting his friend's hair in high school. It's worth noting that he's also my barber - and a darn good one (with a great story).

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Daniel and I discuss:

How he started cutting hair in high school
What it was like to move from employee to employer
How education has played a role in his business

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 20 - The One Where We Are Hacked By Toby Flenderson

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris debate incredible films such as "Beethoven" and "Major League - Back To The Minors". Also, Westworld returns to the podcast.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. 2017 MacBook Pro to bring Intel Kaby Lake, 32GB of RAM (Cult of Mac)

2. Oculus Lawsuit May Undercut VR Industry, not just Facebook's bottom line (Polygon)

3. Google Acquires Fabric (VentureBeat)

4. Meitu Has A Tracking Project (VentureBeat)

5. HOT TOPIC: A Breakdown of The POTUS Transition

Honorable Mention(s):

Westworld Bot for Google Home

DISHonorable Mention(s):

@SteveCarell

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show.

Episode 108 - Al Hopper (@AlHopper_)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Al Hopper is the Co-Founder of SocialPath Solutions. Professionally, he's been focused (and succeeded) on providing great customer service since day one of his career. He also runs a Twitterchat, #CustServ, which focuses on that exact topic.

As an aside (listen to find out why) if you tweet at Al, make sure you add the underscore!

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Al and I discuss:

Why he believes in "servant leadership"
The impact serving in the military had on his career
Why he made the decision to go back to school

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 19 - The One Where Daddy Needs To Clean His Web History

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 09:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir has a sexy new computer screen. Also, our hosts discover that Alexa may be revealing more than people want or need to know!

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Why Car Makers Want To Keep Apple and Google at Arm's Length (The Verge)

2. Everything You Need To Know About The Nintendo Switch (Digital Trends)

3. Google Maps Now Lets You Take Uber Without Leaving The App (The Verge)

4. Android Wear 2.0 Is Arriving Next Month (The Next Web)

5. HOT TOPIC: Facebook Hopes To Run Ads In Middle of Videos (Engadget)

Honorable Mention(s):

Guy Takes Photo of Belichek Sleeping, Won't Give To ESPN (Daily Snark)
Trello is Acquired by Atlassian (Trello Blog)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Alexa AI Teachers Kid About Porn (YouTube)

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show.

Episode 107 - Jessica Fisher (@miniktty)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 09:00:00 +0000

Jessica Fisher (@miniktty) is co-founder of Gameosity and a freelancer writer for Geek and Sundry. She's based in New York City and participates in a plethora of activities around the city such as karate and game meet-ups.

Hear her story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Jess and I discuss:

How Jessica and her husband founded Gameosity
What it's like being a freelancer
What role karate plays in her life

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episodes 18 - The One With A Double Stack of CES 2017

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 09:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris are overloaded with news from CES 2017. Also, Chris lacks the ability to say "economist".

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Amazon's Alexa is Everywhere at CES (The Verge)

2. Meet The Jetsons: Smart homes estimated to be 3.5 billion annual market, say Chief CES economist (GeekWire)

3. Russia demands the removal of LinkedIn from Google Play and Apple's App Store (Newowin)

4. Vine To Officially Shut Down on January 17th (9to5Mac)

5. HOT TOPIC: All things CES 2017 (multiple links)

Honorable Mention(s):

Wendy's Roasting People On Twitter (Business Insider)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Wendy's Tweets Then Deletes Hate Symbol (Fox News)

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show.

Sessions - Episode 5 (Twitter - To Edit Or Not To Edit)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 09:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the fifth episode of Why I Social Sessions - where we bring you short discussions focused on one singular topic. This is not your standard Why I Social episode where we learn about a guest - but instead - we focus on important topics impacting the social media space today.

Today, on Why I Social Sessions, Why I Social alum Lucy Rendler-Kaplan returns to discuss what the possibility of an edit button means for Twitter. Is it a good thing? A bad thing? We discuss - on episode 5 of Why I Social Sessions.

On Episode 5

1. What are the pros of an edit button?

2. What are the cons of an edit button?

3. Do we think it an edit button will actually happen?

4. What other changes would we like to see to Twitter in 2017?

Following the conversation:

I'd encourage you to use the hashtag #WISSessions to share your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook.

This Week's Question(s):

Pro or con? Where do you stand on Twitter adding an edit button?

Episode 106 - Andre Archimbaud (@arshimbo)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 09:00:00 +0000

Andre Archimbaud is an Internet Marketing Consultant at Reach Local as well as the host of the NYStandard podcast. He's an avid music fan with a background in professional baseball. His professional background includes National Public Radio, Yahoo and CBS Radio.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Andre and I discuss:

Working with statistics and scouts for MLB
Why sometimes listening to music isn't enough

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 17 - The One Where We're All @Jack'd Up About 2017

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 09:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris are excited to kick off a new year of Five Favorites!

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Tesla Autopilot's New Radar Technology Predicts An Accident On Dashcam (Electrek)

2. Twitter's Jack Dorsey is "thinking a lot" about an edit-tweet button (Recode)

3. Facebook acquires eye tracking company The Eye Tribe (VentureBeat)

4. Snapchat has doubled its acquisitions in 2016 as it builds towards IPO (Venturebeat)

5. HOT TOPIC: 44% of Devices Activated during Christmas Week Were From Apple (VentureBeat)

Honorable Mention(s):

Chad Johnson buys an XBox One for a fan, than beats them in FIFA (NY Daily News)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Trump Bans Drones, Selfie Sticks and Guns From His Inauguration Because Apparently He Hates Freedom (Gizmodo)

Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show.

Episode 105 - Nicole Virant (@nicolevirant)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 13:28:00 +0000

Nicole Virant is a Corporate Trainer and Adjunct Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (aka NWTC). In addition, she also serves as a member of the Greater Green Bay Chamber as a marketing and public relations committee member. She's an experienced presenter who's Twitter profile will also inform you that she loves family, dogs and board games.

Hear her story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Nicole and I discuss:

How she ended up in a corporate training role
The role (and importance) of family in her life

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 16 - The One With Vine Zombies

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 09:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris does an awful Morgan Freeman impression. I mean, really, it's bad. Also, both hosts reflect on the year that was and look forward to 2017.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Introducing Facebook Live Audio (Facebook Media)

2. What Each State Googled In 2016 (CBS News)

3. Nielsen and Foursquare Partner To Tie Digital Ads To In-Store Visits (Wall Street Journal)

4. Amazon Echo Sells Out Except In-Stores (Wall Street Journal)

5. Hot Topic: Super Mario Run gets 5 million downloads in first 24 hours (CNet)

Honorable Mention(s):

Zuckerberg's JARVIS AI Makes Toast, Launches T-Shirt

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Uber Deploying Cars In Arizona (instead of San Fran) (Tech Crunch)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 104 - Jeremy Goldman (@jeremarketer)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Jeremy Goldman is founder and CEO of the Firebrand Group in New York City. His digital branding and marketing consultancy is devoted to Fortune 500-level brands and high-growth start-ups including L'Oreal, Movado and many others.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Jeremy and I discuss:

Why he loves New York City
What he took away from writing a book
What was his "aha" moment before founding his company

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 15 - The One With Darth Vader

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 09:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris admit neither one has had the chance to see Rogue One yet. Also, Amir finds himself this much closer to one day buying a 360 camera.

Note: There's a slight audio issue on one mic with this week's episode which could not be completely fixed in editing. Thank you for understanding as we will be sure to correct this for next week's 2016 post-holiday episode.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple's New TV App Goes Live (TechCrunch)

2. Meet Amazon Prime Air (YouTube/Amazon)

3. One Billion Affected by Yahoo Hack (BBC)

4. You Can Now Broadcast Live from the Twitter App (The Verge)

5. Hot Topic: Apple, Facebook, Google and Uber say they won't help Trump build a registry of Muslim-Americans (Recode)

Honorable Mention(s):

Introducing 360 Live (on Facebook)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Apple Removes The Time Remaining Estimate on new macOS (Verge)

Bonus:

Get your live streaming update this week in a special episode of Why I Social Sessions featuring Ross Brand of Livestream Universe.

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Sessions - Episode 4 (The Rise of Livestreaming in 2016)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the fourth episode of Why I Social Sessions - where we bring you short discussions focused on one singular topic. This is not your standard Why I Social episode where we learn about a guest - but instead - we focus on important topics impacting the social media space today.

Today, on Why I Social Sessions, Why I Social alum Ross Brand (of Livestream Universe) joins the podcast to discuss the rise of major changes across social media platforms in terms of live-streaming features.

On Episode 4

1. Is Facebook THE place to be for live-streaming?

2. What role do third-party tools play in the future of live-streaming?

3. How is Instagram's live streaming product different?

4. Where do opportunities exist for Twitter and Periscope?

Following the conversation:

I'd encourage you to use the hashtag #WISSessions to share your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook.

This Week's Question(s):

What live-streaming platform do you see yourself focusing on in 2017?

Episode 103 - Brad Parler (@BradParler)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Brad Parler is Digital Communications Administrator at Blinds.com. Brad resides in the Houston area and came highly recommended by Five Favorites co-host, Amir Zonozi.

In his own words - Brad lives with one foot firmly planted in the world of video production the other foot planted in the world of Internet Technology.live with one foot firmly planted in the world of video production the other foot planted in the world of Internet Technology.

Hear his story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Brad and I discuss:

Why has video been so important to his career
How does he utilize video display boards in his work?

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Google and Otto Radio.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 14 - The One Where Google Talks Shrinkage… (You Mean Laundry?)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 09:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Google is shrinking the size of their apps. Also, Amir finally gets his hands on a pair of Snap Spectacles.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Slack and Google Announce Partnership (TechCrunch)

2. Google Play Background App Updates Are Now 65% Smaller (VentureBeat)

3. Instagram Is Changing Comments In A Big Way (Mashable)

4. Pandora Spotify Competitor is Launching Next Year (TechCrunch)

5. Hot Topic: Amazon Just Launched A Cashier-Free Convenience Store (Venture Beat)

Honorable Mention(s):

Microsoft Officially Closes Its Acquisition of LinkedIn

DISHonorable Mention(s):

PewDiePie deletes his (other) YouTube channel (The Verge)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 102 - Karla Porter (@Karla_Porter)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Karla Porter is Director of Program Development and Marketing at The Arc of Luzerne County. She's also Principal of Karla Porter Human Capital and New Media. Her career has taken her across the globe - including 10 years in which she lived in Mexico.

Hear her story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Karla and I discuss:

The importance of the military in her career
What opportunities being bilingual has opened for her
How she became involved in NEPA BlogCon (w/ alum Mandy Pennington)

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 13 - The One With Netflix and No Chill

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir makes Chris talk about Apple. Also, the episode is (a lot) longer than the view of an average Snapchat ad.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Spotify Crunches User Data In Fun Ways for New Global Campaign (AdWeek)

2. AT&T Just Unveiled Its Answer To The Cord-Cutting Wars (Washington Post)

3. Snapchat Video Ads Average Less Than 3 Seconds A View (Advertising Age)

4. The NFL Will (Reportedly) Relax Their Social Media Rules (TechCrunch)

5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY: Netflix (Finally) Adds The Ability To Download Content (Gadgets 360)

Honorable Mention(s):

Finally You Can Say 'Ok Google' to command Android Auto in your car (The Verge)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Stop Using That Cheap Apple Charger (Mashable)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 101 - Amelia Tran (@AmelianTips)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 09:00:00 +0000

The journey to 100 is complete. So begins the road to 200...and it begins with one of the hardest working people I've ever met in the field.

Amelia Tran is Senior Digital Strategist at Firebrand Group, an award-winning futureproofing firm focused on building powerful brands through innovative digital marketing. She's also a board member and events manager for an amazing group of social media minds in NYC called Mosaic.

Hear her story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Amelia and I discuss:

Why working at Starbucks played an important role in her career
What it's like to make a complete career shift (and how she managed)
What the future holds for her...

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Learn more about Zoomph at http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 12 - The One Where Amir Makes Dolphin Sounds

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 09:30:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir makes dolphin sounds (no, really, he does). Also, Chris admits that Amir influenced him into buying a Google Home.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Apple Grounds Its Airport Router Division for Good (Cult of Mac)

2. Facebook's Social Good Forum: Introducing Donations In Live (Facebook Newsroom)

3. NBC Universal Doubles Stake In Buzzfeed (Reuters)

4. Apple Users Are Being Spammed With Cal Invites. Here's What To Do If You Get One (Inc)

5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY: New Ways To Share In The Moment on Instagram (Instagram Blog)

Honorable Mention(s):

Here's Why Casey Neistat Is Ending His Wildly Popular Daily Vlog on YouTube (AdWeek)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Twitter Mistakenly Suspended It's Own CEO's Account (TechCrunch)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Thanksgiving 2016 Special (Why I Social)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 09:30:00 +0000

And now for something completely different. This week - for the first time - I take a focus on the importance of giving thanks (with a bit of a social focus, of course). This week's Thanksgiving special includes an appearance from a Why I Social Ambassador and a look back at one of the most important pieces of an early episode.

Most importantly, this episode is a thank you to anyone who has listened and all those who have supported the podcast.

The podcast will be back next week in it's usual format.

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud, Otto Radio and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 11 - The One With Foot Fetishes and Uber Lovers

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 09:30:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris regrets saying mentioning "Uber Lovers". Also, Amir asks an important question!

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Mark Zuckerberg Outlines How Facebook Will Tackle It's Fake News Problem (The Verge)

2. Otto Radio Builds 2.0 Version on Uber's Trip Experience API (Product Hunt)

3. What's Next for the $3.65 billion Company Behind Pokemon Go (BartieLouScott)

4. Facebook Launches A New Unified Inbox for Businesses on Facebook, Messenger and Instagram (TechCrunch)

5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY: Snapchat Signs Data Deal With Foursquare for Better Targeted Geo-Filters (AdWeek)

Honorable Mention(s):

Twitter Roles Out New and Long Awaited Anti-Harassment Tools (Buzzfeed)

DISHonorable Mention(s):

Coca-Cola Eyes Social Media Friendly Selfie Bottle (The Drum)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 100 - Mary Alice Barrows

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Triple digits. Episode 100. This one's special.

On episode 50 of Why I Social, I told part of the origin story of the podcast as per the request of listener feedback. This week, I've brought my wife - one of the driving forces behind the creation of the podcast onto the show to talk about how she manages social media for her career services office and we discuss one day in 2014 when a podcast was born.

On this week's episode, I invite you to get to know the woman who inspires me every single day and the person who makes Why I Social possible. Hear her story on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Mary Alice and I discuss:

How she went from history teacher to career counselor
How Why I Social's tagline was actually her idea
Why she's currently loving Pinterest

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Five Favorites (Ep. 10) - The One Where Things Go Down The Shitter

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 09:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris reflect on the opportunity to hang out at Zoomph. Also, Chris deals with a broken toilet for three days.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Twitter COO Adam Bain Leaves Twitter (Buzzfeed)

2. Facebook Is Telling Everyone They're Dead (The Verge)

3. Believe It Or Not: Social Media Predicted Trump Victory (Zoomph)

4. Google Is Making Android Auto Available In Any Car (Auto Blog)

5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY: Snapchat's Spectacles Go On Sale Via Minion-like vending machines (TechCrunch)

Honorable Mention(s):

GoPro Is Recalling It's Karma Drone (The Verge)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 99 - Amma Marfo (@ammamarfo )

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 08:30:00 +0000

Amma Marfo is (@AmmaMarfo) is a speaker, writer and a podcaster with a background in education. She's also the creator of Mindful Solutions. I had the opportunity to connect with her at the Social Media Strategies Summit (Higher Education) in Boston this past week and was excited to learn more about her creative processes (which includes a podcast called "The Imposters Podcast") and why creativity is so important to her.

Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Amma and I discuss:

What creativity means to her?
The origin story behind the creation of her podcast.
How she approaches consulting and education.

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Five Favorites (Ep. 9) - The One Where Our Hosts Play IT Guy

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 09:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris talk about what it's like to be the IT guys for their families. Plus, Chris remembers the one Abercrombie shirt he's ever owned.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. These are Tesla's stunning new solar roof tiles for homes (Tech Crunch)

2. Cubs vs. Indians is also the World Series of Twitter (Yahoo Sports)

3. Amazon Just Killed Black Friday (Mashable)

4. Instagram Is Finally Making It Easier To Shop for Products (Recode)

5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY: Slack Takes Out A Full-Page "Dear Microsoft" ad in the New York Times (VentureBeat)

Honorable Mention(s):

Samsung Recalls Top-Load Washing Machine Due To Risk of Impact Injuries (CPSC.Gov)
Also, Apple cuts prices of dongles by 25% and Linkedin launches new portal called "Salary"

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 98 - Katy Griffin (@KatyMGriff)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 08:00:00 +0000

Katy Griffin is Social Media Strategist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (@KatyMGriff). She has six years of experience in marketing and digital development at a public research university. Her university recently hosted the Third Presidential Debate and she shares her experience with me on the podcast.

Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Katy and I discuss:

How she ended up in the Las Vegas area
What it was like working social media during debate week on campus
What advice would she give to someone running social during a Presidential Debate

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 8 - The One With A Halloween Intro Song

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris come to grips with a haunting product launch from Microsoft. Plus, the show gets a special new theme (a Halloween special).

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Amir's Apple Event Update (The Verge)

2. Twitter Is Killing Off Vine (The Verge)

3. Google Fiber CEO Steps Down, Services Halted (Business Insider)

4. YouTube Launches End Screens For All Creators (AdWeek)

5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY: Introducing The Microsoft Surface Pro (YouTube)

Honorable Mention(s): Pepsi Taps New Agency for Digital, Brings Social In-House (AdAge)

Additional Links:

Surface Dial Details (Microsoft)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 97 - Seth Odell (@SethOdell)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 08:00:00 +0000

Seth Odell (@SethOdell) is GM of Marketing Services at Helix Education. Seth previously has served as the keynote at the eduWeb Digital Summit and recently returned from 72 hours of travel including a workshop at High Ed Web in Memphis. In this episode, he also shares a story he's never shared regarding one of his career moves across the country.

Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Seth and I discuss:

How his experience in television has benefited him
What it was like creating Higher Ed Live
How social media has played a crucial role in his career growth

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 7 - The One Where Amir and Chris Debate Who'd Survive the Zombie Apocalpyse

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris discuss how (and if) they'd survive the zombie apocalypse. Plus, our hosts are divided on their choices of coffee brands.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. The NBA will broadcast a game in VR every week this season (The Verge)

2. Pinterest launches service to connect brands with influencers (The Drum)

3. Instagram Stories A Success (Simply Measured)

4. Apple Doesn't Want To Build A Car Anymore --- Just it's Brain (TechCrunch)

5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY Hacked Home Devices Cause Massive Internet Outage (USA Today)

Honorable Mention(s): AT&T to Buy Time Warner (The Verge)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 96 - Patrick Kitchell (@Denmark98)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 07:30:00 +0000

Patrick Kitchell is Technical Solution Specialist at Microsoft. He's previously held a variety of roles including Head of Global CRM at Sitecore. Though he now resides in Denmark, he's previously lived and worked in New York City operating a social service program assisting the homeless persons and drug addicts.

Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Patrick and I discuss:

His experience working/leading social services in NYC
Why he loves CRMS
How Microsoft has impacted him personally and professionally

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 6 - The One Where Amir Talks Sneakers

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris debate the value of business cards. Plus, Amir's love of shoes (sneakers, that is) makes it's way onto the show.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Adidas on Redefining Influencer Marketing Through Dark Social (Marketing Week)

2. Twitter Launches Periscope Producer for Television Quality Videos (ZDNet)

To Submit for Producer Access, CLICK HERE.

3. Google Buys Famebit (Reuters)

4. Snapchat Removes AutoAdvance, Adds Story Playlist (VentureBeat)

5 (HOT TOPIC) USDoT Bans Note 7's from Airplanes (Droid-Life)

Honorable Mention: NFL Ratings Plunge Could Spell Doom for Traditional TV (Washington Post)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 95 - Host's Favorites

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 01:16:54 +0000

And now for something completely different...

I've had the privilege of talking to a lot of amazing people and have heard some amazing stories. Some have been social media focused. Others are just plain entertaining.

Every one of my alums has had a unique career journey and these stories play a major part in who they are. These are some of my favorites.

Highlights include:

My favorite story ever told on Why I Social
Scott Stratten's thoughts on FOMO (fear of missing out)
What it's like to be on the (social) scene for NYC's ball drop

Alums included

Cody and Katie Stevenson (https://kushjobs.co/)
Larry Falck
Scott Stratten and Alison Stratten (http://www.unmarketing.com/about/)
Malia Probst (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/real-virtual-show/id1082507104)
Frankie Greek (http://www.frankiegreek.com/about/)

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 5 - The One Where The NFL Fumbles Their Social Media Policy

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris and Amir find the NFL making a decision that is far too similar to the mistake made during the Olympics. Plus, geek talk commences as we chat all things Google!

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Google Pixel (and other Google Updates from #MadebyGoogle) (Video)

2. This Brand Put 16 Cameras in A Family's Home for 2 Weeks and Made Ads from Footage (AdWeek)

3. A New, Optional Feature for Paid Promotion Disclosure (YouTube Creator Blog)

4. Amazon Prime Members Finally Get Some Real Book Benefits (Mashable)

5 (HOT TOPIC) NFL Teams Can Be Fined For Posting Videos Under New Social Media Policy (ESPN)

Honorable Mention: LinkedIn Launches A Way To Let You Search For Your Job Without Your Boss Knowing (CNBC)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 94 - Miri Rodriguez (@MiriRod)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 11:14:47 +0000

Miri Rodriguez (@MiriRod) is Sr. Lead Community and Social Media Support at Microsoft. She is an avid speaker and we had the opportunity to catch up face-to-face for the first time at Social Media Strategies Summit in San Francisco.

As you'll hear, in this episode recorded live from SF, Miri is full of energy and one of the brightest guests to date!

Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Miri and I discuss:

How she got her start at Microsoft
What traveling around the world has done to impact her views
What she was discussing at Social Media Strategies Summit

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 4 - The One Where We Talk About Going To Mars

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris is amused by the title of a tabloid story (which is also a legit story) about traveling to Mars. Plus, Amir finds a new drone that he needs to spend his life savings on.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. The New DJI Mavic Pro (Casey Neistat - Video)

2. Twitter Finally Lets Everyone Create Their Own Moments (TechCrunch)

3. Netflix Crashes, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage Weigh In (CinemaBlend)

4. Coming Soon To A Cubicle Near You: Facebook at Work (USA Today)

Honorable Mention:
The Legit Article Worth Reading: Elon Musk Mars Exploration (New York Times)
The awful (yet hillarious) title from a tabloid story mentioned on the show here (IE: the funny title)

5 (HOT TOPIC) Meerkat Built A New App In Secret (The Verge)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites.

Episode 93 - Tim Sohn (@sohnsocialmedia)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 08:00:00 +0000

Tim Sohn (@sohnsocialmedia) is the founder of Sohn Social Media Solutions. He also comes from a journalistic background which includes times as a writer, reporter, and editor.

The conference he chairs, C4 DigiCon, is fast approaching in October. It will focus on the four C's of Create, Communicate, Collaborate and Connect.

Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Tim and I discuss:

His love of journalism
The starting of Sohn Social Media Solutions
How he got involved with C4 DigiCon

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 3 - The One With A Google Glass Reference

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 09:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris is preparing for his trip to Social Media Strategies Summit in SF and Amir reminisces about Google Glass. Plus, a rare Pokemon (story) appears.

This week's Five Favorites:

Honorable Mention: The Story Behind The Smartphone Terror Alert in NYC (CNN)

1. Introducing Spectacles (Snap Inc)

2. Snowden on Google Allo: "Don't Use It" (The Next Web)

3. Pokemon Go Is Doing Just Fine (Wired)

4. Facebook Apologizes For Overstating Video Metrics (New York Times)

5 (HOT TOPIC) Twitter May Soon Get Formal Bid (CNBC)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites!

Episode 92 - Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 12:13:03 +0000

Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) is a Community and Marketing Strategist for Amplify Your Biz - which she founded in 2010. Our conversation also comes just as she has returned from the popular conference, CM World. Berrak's story is one full of life lessons as she shares her personal journey which includes time at Google and her decision to move west to Seatle.

Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Berrak and I discuss:

The decision to move to Seatle
Her life as a "Googler"
Why she ended up creating Amplify Your Biz

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 2 - The One Where We Have Twitter On The Brain

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 08:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris is running on coffee fumes and Amir has (as expected) made sure he has the new iPhone - even if his girlfriend is teasing him about the color of the phone. Plus, both Amir and Chris can't avoid Twitter in the news.

Shoutouts in this episode to Christin Kardos and Katy Spencer Johnson.

This week's Five Favorites:

1. Twitter Introduces New Customer Service Display Options and Tools (Social Media Today)

2. Twitter's New, Longer Tweets Are Coming (The Verge)

3. Facebook Live Coming to Desktops, Laptops (Social Times)

4. YouTube Gets its Own Social Network With The Launch of YouTube Community (TechCrunch)

5 (HOT TOPIC) Game Time for Twitter: Jack Dorsey's Big Bet On Live Events (Fast Company)

Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites!

Episode 91 - Will Fanguy (@WillFanguy)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 08:00:00 +0000

Will Fanguy (@WillFanguy) is a teacher turned blog editor for Piktochart (@piktochart). With a background in English, writing, and education - he brings a unique blend of talent to the infographic company. His personality shines (as you hear on the podcast) and his background includes pushing for and achieving innovation in multiple workplaces.

Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Will and I discuss:

How technology has played a major role in his entire life
How he left education
Why he joined the Piktochart team

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 1 - The One Where Amir Won't Shut Up About Apple

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 08:30:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Chris is bummed that Samsung messed up the Note 7 while Amir gets amped about the new iPhone! All this and more on this week's Five Favorites!

This week's Five Favorites:

1. How Netflix is Growing The Popularity of Narcos Through Smart Social Media Marketing (TheDrum.com)

2. Snapchat Cut Local Stories Curators in Shift For Live (Bloomberg Technology)

3. Instagram Killing Off Photo Maps (Mashable)

4.iPhone 7 Impressions: 10 Things (Video by Marques Brownlee)

5. Samsung Recalls Galaxy Notes 7 (US News)

Five Favorites and the Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by Zoomph - Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites!

Episode 90 - Josh McCormack (@joshmccormack)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Josh McCormack (@JoshMcCormack) is the owner of InteractiveQA. There's a good chance you've seen something he's worked on (and have no idea, until now).

Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Josh and I discuss:

How Josh went from history major to IT/web
How he ended up starting InteractiveQA
How social media has played a role in his business and personal life

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

(Stay tuned at the end for a special announcement about an upcoming show!)

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Five Favorites - Episode 0

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In the introductory episode of Five Favorites, hosts Chris Barrows (of Why I Social) and Amir Zonozi (of Zoomph) break down some of the top stories of the past week in social media, digital marketing, and technology. Find out what Five Favorites is all about and dig right in with the Five Favorites of Episode 0!

The Five Favorites of Episode 0:

1. NBC's 12 Billion Dollar Olympic Bet Stumbles Due To Millennials (Bloomberg)

2. Google Will Soon Start Punishing Mobile Sites That Show Hard To Dismiss Pop-Ups (Tech Crunch)

3. NPR's Mailbag Says Goodbye to Comments (NPR)

4. Twitter to Pay Influencers (Twitter)

5. Snapchat Unpublishes Facebook Page (VentureBeat)

Five Favorites and the Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by Zoomph. Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites!

Episode 89 - Tim Smyth (@HistoryComics)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 11:10:29 +0000

Tim Smyth (@HistoryComics) has been a social studies teacher for over 15 years. He's not your average teacher, however, innovating in the classroom on a daily basis. His unique style of bringing comic books into the class as part of the curriculum has opened the doors for him to speak at a variety of conventions including San Diego Comic Con.

Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Tim and I discuss:

How did he get interested in history?
What challenges did he face (if any) making comics part of his curriculum?
What's it like to speak at Comic Con?

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

(Stay tuned at the end for a special announcement about an upcoming show!)

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 88 - Adam Leidhecker (@AdamLeidhecker)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 03:31:53 +0000

Adam Leidhecker (@AdamLeidhecker) is Director of Social Strategy at Otto Radio. Originally recommended to the podcast by alum Vincent Orleck, Adam is a dad and the creator behind multiple starts-ups. You can see one of those projects at
http://portsmithco.com/.

Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Adam and I discuss:

Why the start-up life is so appealing to him
How he got into podcasts?
What drew him to his current job at OttoRadio?

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 87 - Jessica Bates (@Jesserker)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 11:03:02 +0000

Jessica Bates (@Jesserker) is a self-employed digital strategist who's resume includes previous employment at places like the American Lung Association and The World Wildlife Fund. She's an experienced digital strategist who has based herself in the Washington D.C. region.

Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Jessica and I discuss:

The importance of activism in her life
How she became self-employed
Also, a mandatory "Mean Girls" themed five favorite!

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Sessions - Episode 3 (Instagram Stories)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:32:36 +0000

Welcome to the third episode of Why I Social Sessions - where we bring you short discussions focused on one-singular topic. This is not your standard Why I Social episode where we learn about a guest - but instead - we focus on important topics impacting the social media space today.

Today, on Why I Social Sessions, Why I Social alums Casie Shimansky and Cody Stevenson join the podcast to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly with Instagram Stories.

On Episode 3

1. What are the pro and cons of Instagram Stories?

2. What could have Instagram done better?

Following the conversation:

I'd encourage you to use the hashtag #WISSessions to share your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook.

This Week's Question(s):

Do you think Instagram took too many direct features of Snapchat?

Episode 86 - Benson Hendrix (@desertronin)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:34:42 +0000

Benson Hendrix (@desertronin) is Social Media Manager at University of New Mexico. His journey into higher education professionally (as we spoke about originally at eduWeb Digital Summit in Denver) is one that is tied to own personal journey. As a believer in the power of storytelling, his background in journalism parallels much of his journey and plays a major part in why he's found success.

Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Benson and I discuss:

His journey in higher education (both personally and professionally)
How journalism shaped his career
Why storytelling matters

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 85 - John Lee Dumas (@johnleedumas)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 06:30:34 +0000

John Lee Dumas (@johnleedumas) is the host and founder of EOFire. He's also the creator of a Free Podcast Course. His story is one that stems from passion - leaving the world of 9-5 jobs - to pursue podcasting. Social plays a crucial role in the way John interacts with his audience - to the point that a snap led to John joining me on the podcast!

Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, John and I discuss:

Leaving the world of 9-5 jobs.
Why he wanted to create a daily podcast.
What makes podcasting such a useful medium?

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 84 - Kasandrea Sereno (@KasandreaSereno)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 08:00:00 +0000

Kasandrea Sereno (@KasandreaSereno) is an Academic Advisor for the Communication Department at the University of South Florida. In addition, she also serves as a Lead Advisor for the university. She's also the creator of #HigherEdSocial - a Facebook group dedicated to social media professionals in Higher Education.

Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Kasandrea and I discuss:

How she got into (and stayed) in Higher Education
How she built a social community on Facebook
What she's talking about at eduWeb Digital Summit

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 83 - Kristy Gillentine (KrisGillentine)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 10:33:50 +0000

Kristy Gillentine (KrisGillentine) is Vice President of Public Engagement for Drive West Communications. She initially came on my radar after her starting of a new Twitterchat, #ChatSnap and was later referred to me by podcast alum Chris McManamy.

What makes Kristy unique is her strong journalistic background across every sort of medium possible. Print, broadcast, you name it, she's done it! Her drive and journalistic instinct is the reasons she's been so successful - as you'll hear in this week's episode!

Join me this week for a conversation with Kristy Gillentine

This Week on Why I Social, Kristy and I discuss:

What is Kristy's family connection to journalism
How she started #ChatSnap
The difference between writing for journalism, broadcast and social media

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 82 - Dean DeLisle (@deandelisle)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 10:01:24 +0000

Dean DeLisle (@deandelisle) is the Founder and CEO of Forward Progress. He's also a well-known speaker on the Social Media Strategies Summit. Dean is also a father and an outstanding storyteller whom has impressed me with something new and innovative every time we've met.

During this week's podcast, Dean tells a story about how ended up at Merrill Lynch. I would implore that people take a listen. At the heart of this show is people - and people, relationships, is never more important than in the story Dean tells.

Join me this week for a conversation with Dean DeLisle

This Week on Why I Social, Dean and I discuss:

What his experiences in the restaurant business taught him about relationships
How he went from busing tables to working with computers at Merrill Lynch
Going into business for himself

And of course, Why Does He Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 81 - Diana Wolff (Di_Wo)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 10:53:15 +0000

Diana Wolff (@Di_Wo) is the President of LRG Communications and an experienced business woman with a background in writing and B2B. I first had the opportunity to meet Diana during a #LinkedInChat many years ago.

Over the time I've got to know Diana, I've been impressed with her background and her ability to educate those in less social businesses on the value that social media will offer them. Her unique client-base at LRG Communications is one that requires a strong, social lead and she has served that role well for many years.

Get to know Diana this week on Episode 81 of Why I Social...

This Week on Why I Social, Diana and I discuss:

New York City in the late 80's and early 90's
The importance of relationships (both social and off-line)
How she found herself as a Vice President.

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 79 - Jennifer Radke (@radkejen)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 09:30:00 +0000

Jennifer Radke (@radkejen) is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Social Media - a role she recently began two months prior to the recording of this episode. Her career began in higher education as she found a passion for the world of education.

In addition to her job as CEO, she also serves a board member for Women Entrepreneurs of Minnesota.

This Week on Why I Social, Jennifer and I discuss:

How her career began in education
Why training has played an important part in her career
What it was like to become the CEO of the National Institute for Social Media

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 78 - Carolyn Portanova (@CarolynPortanov)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Carolyn Portanova (@CarolynPortanov) is Communications & Marketing Manager at The Brokerage Resource (Inc). She is also a returning guest as she previously appeared as a panelist during a live episode of Why I Social titled "Parenting In The Social Age". She is a prime example of one of the reasons I started the podcast as her story from sales to social media is one that deserves to be told.

This Week on Why I Social, Carolyn and I discuss:

How she became interested in French Literature
The challenges of returning to work after maternity leave

And of course, Why Does She Social?!

Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 77 - Jack Kosakowski (@JackKosakowski1)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 10:08:16 +0000

Jack Kosakowski (@JackKosakowski1) is the Global Head of B2B Social Sales Execution at Creation Agency. His career focus has spent significant time as a leader in the social sales space. Jack is also a blogger and an active social media user (it was his Facebook content that inspired me to ask him to join the podcast in the first-place).

You can also hear Jack on the podcast Sales Tech Talk Live.

This Week on Why I Social, Jack and I discuss:

The importance of social sales
How Jack found himself in Scottsdale, Arizona
What his process of deciding if it's time for a job change is

Share with your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 76 - Jessica Malnik (@jessicamalnik)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 31 May 2016 10:07:59 +0000

Jessica Malnik (@JessicaMalnik) is a community manager, content strategist and blogger based in Austin, Texas. She recently spoke as part of the lightning round sessions at the 2016 edition of CMX Summit East.

Jessica, like many recent guests, has a background/interest in journalism which has played a crucial role in her career success. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor's in Online Media.

This Week on Why I Social, Jessica and I discuss:

Her preparation process for speaking engagements
Why traveling and studying abroad has been essential to her career
The difference between social media management and community

Share with your thoughts on thisweek'sepisodewith #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 75 - Martin Lieberman (@MartinLieberman)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 24 May 2016 08:00:00 +0000

Martin Lieberman (@MartinLieberman) is a content marketer and social media manager for IBM. His career began as an intern at Ad Age in NYC and blossomed in Boston as he took on a multitude of roles at companies like Staples and Constant Contact.

Aside from his professional life, Martin is a sports-fan (I forgave him for cheering the Red Sox) and an avid-movie goer. While he was on a long-list of persons I looked forward to having on the podcast, it's worth noting that recent alum, Glenda Vaquerano made the personal recommendation herself to include Martin on the show.

This Week on Why I Social, Martin and I discuss:

His "very early" career in journalism
Discovering sports in Boston
The unplanned journey that turned into a successful career

Share with your thoughts on thisweek'sepisodewith #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 74 - Stephen Hoops (@StephenHoops)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 17 May 2016 05:10:14 +0000

Stephen Hoops (@StephenHoops) is a SEO and Content Marketing Specialist and a graduate of West Virginia University. My introduction to Stephen came through mutual friends and a few Why I Social Ambassadors.

On a personal note, I always enjoy the opportunity to talk to guests who possess the energy and spirit of someone like Stephen. He truly was a joy to connect with and learn more about how he went from college DJ to marketing specialist!

Note: Though it was not discussed on the podcast, Stephen also recently launched a comedy podcast of his own, titled "Down To Clown".

This Week on Why I Social, Stephen and I discuss:

Moving to (from New York) and living in West Virginia
How he discovered social media
The impact of Megaman on his life

Share with your thoughts on thisweek'sepisodewith #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Sessions - Episode 2 (Emojis and Social Communication)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Thu, 12 May 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the second episode of Why I Social Sessions - where we bring you short discussions focused on one-singular topic. This is not your standard Why I Social episode where we learn about a guest - but instead - we focus on important topics impacting the social media space today.

Today, on Why I Social Sessions, linguist and SXSW speaker Gretchen McCulloch (@GretchenAMcC) and I discuss the value of emoji's as a communication tool in today's social space.

On Episode 2

1. Who is using emoji language (and why?)

2. What role does emoji language play in online conversation?

Following the conversation:

I'd encourage you to use the hashtag #WISSessions to share your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook.

This Week's Question(s):

Do you think Instagram took too many direct features of Snapchat?

Episode 73 - Glenda Vaquerano (@GlendaVee)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 10 May 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Glenda Vaquerano-Briones (@GlendaVee) is Public Relations and Social Media Manager at Sexy Hair Concepts. Her PR background (including college) has lead her to a career as an experienced public relations and social media professional whom is also one of the funniest people I've had the pleasure of meeting on Twitter.

Glenda, whom I first met thanks to my #JVMChat co-host Jason Viglione's wife, also understand the importance of customer service. She's excelled in the social media management and fashion industries and is a true pleasure to chat with on this week's episode.

This Week on Why I Social, Glenda and I discuss:

How Glenda found herself at Sexy Hair
Just how crazy IS fashion week?
The challenges of social media and the beauty industry

Share with your thoughts on thisweek'sepisodewith #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
Follow at @WhyISocial.

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annualplanswiththe promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more aboutZoomph?Checkout their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Episode 72 - Carmen S. Collins (@CShirkeyCollins)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 03 May 2016 01:57:39 +0000

Carmen Collins (@CShirkeyCollins) leads social media forCisco's talent brand. She has previously worked for Mozilla andAOL. Her background and time at AOL corresponds with perhaps themost popular days of AOL in the late 90's and early2000's.

Collins comes to Why I Social through the recommendation of alumCasie Shimansky who has since taken a job at Cisco!

This Week on Why I Social,Carmen andI discuss:

Being a member of the first name club on AOL
How she found herself at Cisco
The value of social media and recruitment

Share with your thoughts on thisweek'sepisodewith #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.
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Episode 71 - Jonathan Brewer (@HouseofBrew)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:23:53 +0000

Jonathan Brewer (@HouseofBrew) or perhaps better known as "Brew" is Director of Awesome at BTC Revolutions. If you're an avid Why I Social listener you may recognize his name as he made a brief appearance on this year's Community Manager Appreciation Day edition of the podcast. That's because Brew is a core member #CMGRHangout which takes place every Friday.

Brew's journey is certainly a unique one and he offers a unique perspective on the changes (or lack there of?) that have taken place in the internet and technology industry. Take the journey this week as I converse with Johnathan on this and more.

This Week on Why I Social, Jonathan and I discuss:

His discovery of "the internet"
How communication and the internet have changed (or not changed)
His journey into the social media/community focused workspace

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Episode 70 - Tracy Soren and Jessie Jolles (@SorenandJolles)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 03:29:26 +0000

Tracy Soren and Jessie Jolles (@SorenandJolles) are a comdy duo currently living in New York City. Their story together begins at a Upright Citizens Brigade improv class and has grown into a friendship which has been compared to that of Broad Street.

Their web series, Dibs, about the importance of friendship during life's little moments. They've also been described as NYC's Top 10 Up-And-Coming Comedians and 10 Rising Improv Stars That Deserve Their Own TV Show.

Naturally, I was also excited to learn they recently launched a podcast as well.

This Week on Why I Social, Tracy, Jessie and I discuss:

The story of how they met
What made them each interested in comedy
How YouTube and Social Media have impacted their comedic careers

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Episode 69 - Allison Matherly (@allisonmatherly)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 08:00:00 +0000

Allison Matherly (@allisonmatherly) is Coordinator of Digital Engagement at Texas Tech University. She's also a graduate of the same university and currently pursuing her Master's of Arts.

I first had the opportunity to meet Allison at eduWeb Digital Summit and was impressed by the drive and passion she brings to her job every single day. Her journey from student to intern to employee is one that is worth listening to.

Hear that and more on this episode (69) of Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Allison and I discuss:

How Allison went from student to employee at Texas Tech
Learn how she created the #IAmARedRaider campaign

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Episode 68 - Andrew Seaman (@Andrewmseaman)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 08:00:00 +0000

Andrew Seaman (@AndrewmSeaman) is Senior Medical Journalist at Thomson Reuters. You may have seen his articles in other papers such as USA Today and Politico. In addition to his work at Thomson Reuters - Andrew is also Ethics Committee Chair for the Society of Professional Journalists.

This episode is also unique in the fact that I've had the absolute pleasure of being a part of Andrew's journey - from our days at Best Buy - to Wilkes University where I worked and he attended school. It's been tremendous to see his journey and an even bigger joy to discuss it on Why I Social.

This Week on Why I Social, Andrew and I discuss:

How Andrew became interested in journalism
The difference between his experiences in New York and Washington D.C

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Episode 67 - Noelle Seybert (@NoelleSeybert)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Noelle Seybert (@NoelleSeybert) is Social Media Manager at Pepperdine University (@Pepperdine). She has been working in higher education for more than four years and has been in the marketing industry since 2009. Seybert is also in the process of completing her Doctorate in Business Administration (with an estimated completion in 2018).

I crossed paths with Seybert at Kurogo's Mobile Conference (hosted at CSUN). She was (as far as I know) the only other person there who's full-time work consisted of both mobile and social media. She caught my attention as she actively shared her feedback and notes on the #Kurogo2016 hashtag that conference was using.

And thus, the Kurogo Mobile Conference 2016 edition of Why I Social was born!

This Week on Why I Social, Noelle and I discuss:

Whether or not we can define a generation over a 20+ year gap
The influence her father has had on her life
How she began working with both social media and mobile

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Episode 66 - Jermaine Young (@Tigga7d6)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 08:00:00 +0000

Jermaine Young (@Tigga7d6) is lead designer at A Sublime Creation Design Studio and the co-host of #Spoofchat. It's also worth noting that Jermaine is a father - something I daresay he would say is his most important job.

Jermaine's work on #Spoofchat includes a unique creative process which he discusses mid-way through the episode.

Note: #Spoofchat was previously discussed on Episode 49 featuring Adam Dince (iTunes).

This Week on Why I Social, Jermaine and I discuss:

The creative process behind #Spoofchat
How he mixes social media and parenthood
Why he loves Snapchat

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Episode 65 - Frankie Greek (@FrankieGreek)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 09:30:00 +0000

Frankie Greek (@FrankieGreek) is Social Media Manager at Fuse Media and Social Media Coordinator for the Shorty Awards. Her background in television and radio have also helped her establish the skill sets required to succeed in both Snapchat and live-streaming.

My actual introduction to her came when I learned she would be running the Snapchat account (which she launched, by the way) for the Times Square Ball. This episode is a long-time coming and it was joy to learn about how Frankie went from Penn State Grad to where she is today.

This week's episode also features questions from Chris Strub and Patrick Jervis-Stone

This Week on Why I Social, Frankie and I discuss:

How studying radio and broadcast helped her get where she is now.
Her first impressions of Snapchat
Running the Snapchat account for the Times Square Ball

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Episode 64 - Bree Kelley (@SmartSuiteBree)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Bree Kelley (@SmartSuiteBree) is a community manager at Casual Fridays (based in San Diego). She works remotely from the other side of the country in Cleveland, Ohio. You may also remember that Casual Friday Founder, Tyler J Anderson, joined the show in the first episode of 2016.

Bree's "no-quit" attitude was always impressed me and this episode also opens with a fan question from listener Martin Lieberman.

This Week on Why I Social, Bree and I discuss:

How networking (in-person) landed her a job
Loving life in Cleveland
Slack and it's value to today's workplace

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Episode 63 (SMWNNYC Edition) - Michelle Pinchev (@CityByHeart)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 10:30:00 +0000

Michelle Pinchev is (@CityByHeart) is the founder of Pinch Social. She's also the executive producer of Social Media Week(i) Toronto, an independent Social Media Week. It's only appropriate that our path's crossed at this year's Social Media Week New York City...

Shortly after meeting Michelle at the opening night event at Social Media Week (NYC), I knew

NOTE: The original description for this episode described Michelle's role as executive producer of Social Media Week Toronto. The proper term was SMWi Toronto - as it is independent from Social Media Week.

This Week on Why I Social, Michelle and I discuss:

The evolution of influencer marketing in 2016
Her research process for Social Media Week Toronto
What she learned at Social Media Week New York City

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Episode 62 - Malia Probst (@TheMalia)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Malia Probst (@TheMalia) is the host of The Real Virtual Reality Show and works full-time consulting on virtual reality. Her journey to living in Los Angeles didn't happen over night - but her interest in virtual reality pretty clear from the start.

From her experience in hospitality to her journey across the country, Malia brings a unique story to Why I Social that is is complete with passion for new technology.

This Week on Why I Social, Ross and I discuss:

The challenges and rewards of working in hospitality.
The journey from Indiana to LA
The future of virtual reality and social media

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Sessions - Episode 1 (Twitter and #Twitter10k)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first edition of Why I Social Sessions - which will bring you short discussions focused on one-singular topic. This is not your standard Why I Social episode where we learn about a guest - but instead - we focus on important topics impacting the social media space today.

Today, on Why I Social Sessions, guest (and Why I Social alum) Lucy Rendler-Kaplan and I discuss changes happening on Twitter with a focus on #Twitter10k and the misinformation being spread regarding Twitter's big change.

On Episode 1

1. Twitter changes - are they good or bad?

2. How/what misinformation is being spread about #Twitter10k

3. How will changes to Twitter impact NEW users of the platform?

Following the conversation:

I'd encourage you to use the hashtag #WISSessions to share your thoughts.

This Week's Question(s):

What do you think about the changes happening to Twitter?
Are you for or against Twitter's current evolution?

Episode 61 - Ross Brand (@iRossBrand)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Ross Brand (@iRossBrand) is the Vice President (and co-founder) of HR Avant-Garde and the editor of LivestreamUniverse.com. He also hosts the Blab show "Livestream Stars" which I had the pleasure of joining just one week ago.

Ross has a broadcast background, which adds to his skill set as a live-streamer, and is is an NYU alumni (with a Master of Science in Human Resource Management). During his time at NYU, he was also the chapter President for SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management).

This Week on Why I Social, Ross and I discuss:

How Ross got interested in Human Resources
How his broadcast experience helps him with live-streaming
The relationship between podcasting and live-streaming

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Episode 60 - Derek K. Hubbard (@derekkhubbard)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Derek K Hubbard (@DerekKHubbard) is Social Business Specialist for Southwest Airlines. He is a dynamic and experienced speaker with a proven track record of creating compelling content for social and digital mediums.

I had the pleasure of meeting Derek in 2015 at the Social Media Strategies Summit in Dallas where we were both speaking. I immediately knew that he'd be a great fit for the show and he does not prove me wrong. His story is a fascinating one and his work is even more impressive.

This Week on Why I Social, Derek and I discuss:

The value of experiencing different cultures
Challenges of social media in the travel business
Beyond the noise - using Periscope to create quality content

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Episode 59 - #CMAD Part 3 feat. Lorrie Guerrieri

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 11:31:10 +0000

Lorrie Guerrieri (@LorrieGuerreri) is a Community Manager for BTC Revolutions. She was also a previous guet on the Why I Social podcast until there was an issue with her audio and her content was unable to be recovered. Thanks to #CMAD - you can now learn more about Lorrie!

Note: All guests in this series were nominated by their fellow CMs during #CMAD.
Part 1 - Gabby Yocum (iTunes)
Patt 2 - Monina Wagner (iTunes)

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Episode 59 - #CMAD Part 4 featuring Noni Shaney

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 11:21:50 +0000

Noni Shaney (GoGoogleMe) is a higher education and social media professional who is also currently an employee of BTC Revolutions. Her work ethic and time-management skills are on display in this episode as we discuss how she manages multiple roles/accounts in her career.

This is also the LAST in the #CMAD Series. I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to every community manager who's been on this year's series (see the full list below) and encourage you to thank YOUR community manager when you have the opportunity.

Note: All guests in this series were nominated by their fellow CMs during #CMAD.
Part 1 - Gabby Yocum (iTunes)
Patt 2 - Monina Wagner (iTunes)
Part 3 - Lorrie Guerrieri (iTunes)

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Episode 59 - #CMAD Part 2 feat. Monina Wagner

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 10:30:00 +0000

Monina Wagner (@MoninaW) is Community Manager at Content Marketing Institute and the second guest in this year's #CMAD Series. From news to social media, Monina has a diverse background that was exciting to explore. Her experience and enthusiasm make her well-deserving of being featured as a standout community manager.

Note: All guests in this series were nominated by their fellow CMs during #CMAD.
Part 1 - Gabby Yocum (iTunes)

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Episode 59 - #CMAD Part 1 feat. Gabby Yocum (@thegreat_gabbby)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Gabby Yocum (@thegreat_gabbby) is the Community Manager at Zoomph and the first guest in this four-part series for Community Manager Appreciation Day. Her story begins at a job fair but her future in community and social media is clearly still being told!

Note: All guests in this series were nominated by their fellow CMs during #CMAD.

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Episode 59 (Meet the #CMAD Team)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Community Manager Appreciation Day (#CMAD) is a 24 hour, live event taking place on Google Hangouts featuring panels focused on, you guessed it, community management. In 2015, the Why I Social podcast produced the first annual Why I Social #CMAD episode.

In 2016, the conversations with Community Managers are split up throughout the week. To kick-start this year's series, I chatted with the team behind this year's #CMAD.

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Episode 58 - Ahna Hendrix (@AhnaHendrix)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:30:00 +0000

Ahna Hendrix (@AhnaHendrix) is CEO and Lead Social Media Specialist at ARCH Digital Agency. She started ARCH Digital in October 2014 and has built a strong online reputation in social media over the course of her career.

You'll find her actively sharing snap stories on a daily basis via Snapchat (which I personally enjoy). She's also a yoga and health enthusiast who has made some significant changes to her life to focus on positivity.

This Week on Why I Social, Ahna and I discuss:

The importance of making time for yourself
Ahna's love of Snapchat
The power of positivity

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Episode 57 - Ryan Pena (@iRyanPena)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Ryan Pena (@iRyanPena) is Social Media Manager at MentorMate and MobCon. He previously served as Senior Social Media Specialist at Capella University. He's an experienced speaker who leverages his work experience to share actionable items at conferences like Social Media Strategies Summit.

His experience in social media and mobile lends to a great conversation around such topics - but his personal story/personality is what has allowed me to grow a professional and personal friendship. with him.

This Week on Why I Social, Ryan and I discuss:

Building A Social Media program from scratch
Employee Advocacy
Working in Higher Education
The definition of "mobile"

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Episode 56 - Tyler Anderson (@tylerjanderson)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 11:30:00 +0000

We kick off 2016 with the Founder of Casual Fridays and Executive Producer of Social Media Day San Diego, Tyler Anderson. Tyler leads a growing company based on San Diego and has worked with other major events, such as the Super Bowl. Like previous guest, Scott Stratten, he speaks to the value of focus and niche marketing.

Beyond his professional life, Tyler is a father and enjoys living in the San Diego area. He's also something near and dear to my heart, a podcaster. You can learn more about his current podcast, Social Media Social Hour Podcast, on Stitcher and iTunes.

This Week on Why I Social, Tyler and I discuss:

The Casual Fridays story
What it's like to be executive producer of Social Media Day San Diego
Scaling your company in a competitive space
The utter chaos of Comic Con in San Diego

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Episode 55 - Carrie Kerpen (@CarrieKerpen)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Carrie Kerpen is the CEO of Likeable Media and the host of the All The Social Ladies Podcast. Her podcast has included guests ranging from author Ann Handley to Carmen Shirkey Collins (of Cisco) and features some of the most influential women in business today. It's safe to say it's a can't miss podcast (lady or gentleman!).

It's worth noting that her spouse, Dave Kerpen of Likeable Local, was a previous guest on the show. One of the coolest things about this podcast is hearing Carrie discuss some of the same things Dave and I discussed in order to hear both perspectives of the Kerpen family.

This Week on Why I Social, Carrie and I discuss:

Building Community for "All The Social Ladies"
Her side of the Kerpen wedding story
Managing time (as a CEO and a parent)

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Episode 54 - Nycole Hampton (@MsNycole)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 10:22:47 +0000

Nycole Hampton (@MsNycole) is a social media strategist at @ChooseChicago. She has a passion for all things Chicago and is the last of a trio of guests from a previous #socialroadtrip to Chicago this past summer with alumni Joel Renner.

There's a ton to be impressed with from Nycole's resume - from managing her own freelance career alongside a full-time job - to her Instagram success leading the Choose Chicago accounts. She's also an active speaker speaking at events in and around the city (and beyond).

This Week on Why I Social, Nycole and I discuss:

Her passion for the city of Chicago
The power of influencer marketing
Using User-Generated Content (and Instagram)

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Episode 53 - Nick Cicero (@NickCicero)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 10:30:00 +0000

Nick Cicero (@NickCicero) is the CEO and founder of Delmondo, strategist at BRaVe Ventures and a podcaster. He previously was a co-host of the Social Pros Podcast in 2014 alongside Jay Baer and Jeffrey Rohrs.

The list of Nick's accomplishments are too big to list everything but a few notable ones include helping Oprah put the first Instagram Video on TV, a two-time Addy Winner and a multiple time SXSW speaker.

More importantly, Nick is active across social media creating conversations and telling stories on a plethora of platforms including Twitter and Snapchat.

This Week on Why I Social, Nick and I discuss:

The journey to founding Delmondo
The value of influencer marketing
Living and working in New York City

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Episode 52 - Caitlin Waters (@Cait_Waters)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 10:30:00 +0000

Caitlin Waters (@Cait_Waters) is Digital Communications Manager at SocialWhirled, Director of Programming for Social Media Club Phoenix as well as host of the #chatwhirled twitterchat. She's also a Why I Social podcast ambassador.

I've long had the opportunity to watch Caitlin work her magic running the #ChatWhirled twitter chat and seen her work from afar. Long before she was a Why I Social ambassador it was clear she was putting in her time and effort to progress her career and help others.

From time working with Habitat to Humanity to her experience launching multiple social media accounts, Caitlin has kept herself busy and advanced herself professionally in a short amount of time.

This Week on Why I Social, Caitlin and I discuss:

Small-town versus big-town
Launching a new social media account
The story behind #ChatWhirled

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Episode 51 - Scott Stratten and Alison Kramer (@UnMarketing, @UnAlison)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 11:00:00 +0000

This week's guests (the duo of Scott Stratten and Alison Kramer) are the team behind the UnPodcast. The podcast can best be described (as seen on Unmarketing.com) as "the business podcast for the fed-up". The pair is responsible for a fantastic collection of books and provides some real-life examples of things brands are doing both wrong and right.

In addition to the podcast, Scott has written four best-selling business books, the newest being "UnSelling: The New Customer Experience" which was just named "Sales Book of the Year" by 1-800-CEOREAD. He also spends his time providing keynotes at conferences around the world. It was his closing keynote at Higher Ed Web 2015 in Milwaukee that provided me the opportunity to connect. He is a powerful speaker who commands your attention.

It's safe to say this team is a winning one - and their insights are on-point in regards to what is taking place in the social media and marketing world we live in today.

This Week on Why I Social, Ali and I discuss:

A day in the life the Unmarketing Podcast team
Creating a podcast with a dedicated video component
The importance of focus

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

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Episode 50 - The @WhyISocial story (recorded live)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 09:00:00 +0000

When I (@CBarrows) first started the Why I Social podcast - I never expected to be a guest on my own show. As the story goes, around episode 20 or so - I started getting requests to here more about the show and why I decided to start it. I won't deny that it's always nice when people are interested - but I thought nothing of it.

Nearly one year later this happens: A live blab - hosted by alum and friend, Vincenzo Landino (@VincenzoLandino) - where I'm a guest on my own show. It was a humbling experience as well as a valuable one - as it put me in the seat I've put more than 55+ alums previously.

This Week on Why I Social, Vincenzo and I discuss:

Starting Why I Social
How a handshake played a key role
My Five Favorites

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Episode 49 - Adam Dince (@AdamDince)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Adam Dince (@AdamDince) is the Director of Earned Media at Deluxe Corporation and the co-founder of #Spoofchat. He brings over fourteen years of internet marketing experience to the podcast including everything from SEO, web development and social media.

As I caught up with Adam this past week, he was just getting back from one of his speaking gigs at Minnesota Blog Con. Adam has lived in Arizona and New York prior to his move to settling in Minnesota. His experiences and strong network have continued to gain him opportunities and ultimately led to his current role at Deluxe Corporation.

#Spoofchat is discussed in the last part of the podcast and is a weekly twitter chat mixing pop culture, humor, and social media into a unique blend of crazy fun.

This Week on Why I Social, Ali and I discuss:

Moving from New York to Minnesota
The creation of #Spoofchat
Why he believes in holistic digital marketing strategy

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Episode 48 - Lucy Rendler-Kaplan (@LUCYrk78)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Lucy Rendler-Kaplan (@LUCYrk78) is a Senior Marketing Communications professional with over 17+ years of experience. She hails from the Chicago-metro area, is a fan of Chicago style pizza (yeah, we went there again) and you'll find her every week as a leader of #Contentchat.

You may remember Lucy's name as she was one of the person's I met face-to-face during my #SocialRoadTrip with alum Joel Renner during our trip to Chicago in the summer. Like many of my guests - her appearance on the show is a long-time coming - and she's the ideal guest for the show as her accomplishments aren't illustrated by any sort of follower count.

This Week on Why I Social, Ali and I discuss:

Identifying your customers using social media
What is "hustle"?
The return of the NYC versus Chicago pizza debate

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Episode 47 - Ali Reza Manouchehri (@Amanouch110)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Ali Manouchehri (@amanouch110) is Chief Executive Officer of Metrostar Systems in Washington, DC. In addition to this role as CEO of Metrostar, he's the founder of the Zoomph (previously discussed by guest Amir Zonozi on episode 36).

Business Journal named Ali in their list of 40 under 40 in 2010. In addition, he's a board member at Washington Adventist Hospital.

While often we speak of companies starting in a dorm room with platforms like Facebook - Ali is a member of that club.He co-founded MetroStar with Robert J. Santos in 1999 while pursuing a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy at George Mason University, and has grown the company to more than 200 employees and profitability.

This Week on Why I Social, Ali and I discuss:

Starting Metrostar while in college
The creation of Zoomph
The importance of a strong company culture

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Episode 46 - Rachel Miller (@rachelloumiller)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Rachel Miller is Senior Social Strategist at PureMatter. Outside of her role at Pure Matter, she (was) the co-host of #SBizhour (with Episode 1 guest, Brian Fanzo)

I've had the luxury of working with Rachel Miller during her time at Millennial CEO. During this time I can recall my first Google Hangout with Rachel. I immediately picked up that we were cut from one of the same pieces of cloth in regards to the topic of organization. It's this department that most persons I (and probably you) know can learn a thing or two.

This Week on Why I Social, Rachel and I discuss:

Playing the long-game
The tricks of the trade to staying organized
Running and evolving #SBizHour

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Episode 45 - Eric Clark (@EA_Clark)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 10:30:00 +0000

Eric Clark is Director of Academic Services, STEM Initiatives, and Special Programs at the Woodward School. In addition to his experience as an adjunct professor and as a marketing professional, he is also currently serving as Regional Director for Social Outlier.

Clearly, Eric is a busy man - but I'm grateful he took the time to chat with Why I Social about everything he's been up to - from Social Media Strategies Summit to his favorite bowtie.

This Week on Why I Social, Eric and I discuss:

The value of training and education
Working the side hustle
Bowties

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Thank you's to @Zoomph, @BenjoBeats and @JeffJanuszek

Episode 44 (Part 3) - Higher Ed Web Edition (w/ Lougan Bishop)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:30:00 +0000

And now for something completely different.

This week's episode is broken up into three parts - with each part being available over the course of three days. It's a chance to get to know a few folks doing great things in higher education and social media (all of whom presented at this year's Higher Ed Web 2015).

My guests this week:

Part 1: Larry Falck (@lfalck) Posted on 10/13

Part 2: Lisa Catto (@lisacatto) Posted on 10/14

Part 3: Lougan Bishop (@lougan)

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Thank you's to @Zoomph, @BenjoBeats and @JeffJanuszek

Episode 44 (Part 2) - High Ed Web Edition w/ Lisa Catto

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 21:55:19 +0000

Part 1: Larry Falck (@lfalck) Posted on 10/13

Part 2: Lisa Catto (@lisacatto)

Part 3: Lougan Bishop (@lougan) Available on 10/15

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Thank you's to @Zoomph, @BenjoBeats and @JeffJanuszek

Episode 44 (Part 1) - High Ed Web Edition w/ Larry Falck

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Part 1: Larry Falck (@lfalck)

Part 2: Lisa Catto (@lisacatto) Available on 10/14

Part 3: Lougan Bishop (@lougan) Available on 10/15

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Thank you's to @Zoomph, @BenjoBeats and @JeffJanuszek

Episode 43 - Austin Andrews of Biggest Loser Season 11 (@retrofitaustin)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 10:30:00 +0000

If you recognize the name Austin Andrews - you may be a fan of the reality tv series "The Biggest Loser". Andrews was a competitor on the show (with his father, Ken) during Season 11.

Since leaving the show, the pair has started their own business venture (RetroFit Ministries) where they focus on healthy living in the Christian Community

If you've ever seen Austin on a blab or tweeting on Twitter, you know he brings an energy that is like none other. His focus on building relationships and putting others first is a welcome one in a social media world that is so often filled with ego.

This Week On Why I Social, Vincent and I talk about:

The power of addiction
Experiencing "The Biggest Loser" with his Dad
Starting RetroFit Ministries

Episode 42 - Vincent Orleck (@VincentOrleck)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Vincent Orleck is native New Englander who is currently serving as Social Media Manager for Plexus World Wide. In addition, Orleck also serves as President of Social Media Club Phoenix. He's perhaps best known on Twitter for his social tagline of "Not A Guru".

This Week On Why I Social, Vincent and I talk about:

Being the Social Media Club Phoenix President
"Ninjas, Experts and Gurus"
Social media in sports

The Why I Social Podcast is Brought To You By Zoomph

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Thank you's to @Zoomph, @BenjoBeats and @JeffJanuszek

Episode 41 - Sree Sreenivasan (@Sree)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:30:00 +0000

Sree Sreenivasan (@Sree) is the first Chief Digital Officer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the latest step in what he calls "a three-decade, one-way love affair with one of the world's greatest museums." At the Met, he leads a 70-person team on topics he loves: digital, web, social, mobile, video, apps, data, geolocation, email and more. He joined the Met after spending 20 years at Columbia University as a member of the faculty of the Columbia Journalism School and a year as the university's first Chief Digital Officer.

I first had the opportunity to meet Sree as I introduced him as the keynote speaker at Edu Web Digital Summit. His all by mobile presentation style caught my attention and his love of technology made him the perfect guest for the podcast.

In addition to his role as CDO, he also has a podcast of his own (The @Sree Show) which can be found at http://www1.play.it/audio/sree-show/.

This Week On Why I Social, Sree and I talk about:

The importance of mobile
His passion for technology
The value of museum culture

This Week's Episode (and don't forget to subscribe!)

iTunes (Direct Link)
Stitcher Radio (Direct Link)

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more about Zoomph? Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Thank you's to @Zoomph, @BenjoBeats and @JeffJanuszek

Episode 40 - Tamara McCleary (@TamaraMcCleary)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Tamara McCleary (@TamaraMcCleary) is the creator of Relationshift and an internationally recognized expert on relationships and conscious business. She's constantly on-the-road speaking at events across the country. Based on her Instagram I can tell you she usually gets a window seat.

The Boulder resident is arguably the most inspirational guest to-date that I've had an opportunity to converse with on Why I Social.

From business to simply enjoying life, Tamara has the pulse on what it takes to make the shift that we as individuals need to truly find that "happy place" in our lives.

This Week On Why I Social, Ben and I talk about:

Reinventing our lives and relationships
Being a public speaker
The myth of "work/life" balance

This Week's Episode (and don't forget to subscribe!)

iTunes (Direct Link)
Stitcher Radio (Direct Link)

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Thank you's to @Zoomph, @BenjoBeats and @JeffJanuszek

Episode 38 - Mandy Boyle (@MandyBoyle)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Mandy Boyle (@MandyBoyle) is Director of Marketing at Net Driven. She is also the co-founder of NEPA BlogCon, an adjunct professor at Marywood University and a member of the New Vintage Ensemble. I have it on good authority that she also makes a mean cupcake.

Personally, I've known Mandy longer than any other guest on the podcast. We both attended the same university (Marywood) and were part of a variety of clubs together during our time on campus. The term is over-used but it's the only way I can truly describe Mandy.

Go-Getter.

From day one, she knew she wanted to succeed in her career and life in general. She's done just that. I invite you to get to know Mandy Boyle this week on Why I Social.

This Week On Why I Social, Mandy and I talk about:

How SEO works with Social Media
NEPA Blogcon
NBC's The Office

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Exclusive to Why I Social, receive 20% off all annual plans with the promo code WhyISocial20. Want to learn more about Zoomph? Check out their analytics page: http://bit.ly/WhySocialAnalytics

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Thank you's to @Zoomph, @BenjoBeats and @JeffJanuszek

Social Stories - Episode 1

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 10:45:00 +0000

Social Stories is about YOUR stories in YOUR voice. Every month, the podcast will ask you a question. All you have to do is answer!

This month's story:

"Tell us a story about a time you’ve connected with someone (face-to-face) after meeting them on social media – and how that relationship has grown since!"

This month's storytellers

Nikki Fica
Ryan Pena
Daniele Rossi
Laura VanZandt
Brent Summers
Lindsay Evans
Vincent Orleck

Want to submit YOUR story?

1. Listen to the latest question (either in the episode or posted via social media at @WhyISocial on Twitter).

2. Record your story in mp3 or m4a format and send it to WhyISocial@gmail.com.

Episode 37 - Pam Moore (@PamMktgNut)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 11:30:00 +0000

Pam Moore (@PamMktgNut) is founder and CEO of Marketing Nutz. She has 15+ years of experience helping everyone from entrepreneurs to fortune 500 organizations build winning brands and integrated platforms that sustain business.

Personally, I've had the pleasure of conversing with Pam on more than a fair share of occasions through Twitter. Her friendly approach and personable nature made it easy to start a conversation. Perhaps what has impressed me more is her ability to accept what she hasn't mastered. Shortly after we recorded her episode, I found her utilizing social media to find a greater understanding of Snapchat.

The reality is we aren't all-knowing - as much as many "social" folks - seem to think they can be. Pam gets that! Enjoy the conversation.

This Week On Why I Social, Pam and I talk about:

Omni-channel versus multi-channel
Writing a book with a co-author
Starting a company

This Week's Episode (and don't forget to subscribe!)

iTunes (Direct Link)
Stitcher Radio (Direct Link)

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.
Thank you's to @Zoomph, @BenjoBeats and @JeffJanuszek

Episode 36 - Amir Zonozi (@Zonozi)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Amir Zonozi (@Zonozi) is Chief Strategy Officer at Zoomph. He is a graduate of George Mason University (B.S.) and Georgetown (M.A.) and has lived in the Washington D.C. area his whole life.

At the core of his life philosophy is the art of relationship building. He's passionate about a variety of technology topics including wearable tech, social trends and branding (personal and business).

This Week On Why I Social, Amir and I talk about:

The psychology of social media
Justin Bieber's influence on Zoomph
Working with sports and entertainment clients

The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph.

Share with #WhyISocial
Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio
Follow at @WhyISocial.

Thank you's to @Zoomph, @BenjoBeats and @JeffJanuszek

Episode 35 - Alissa Trumbull (@AnOrchidInBloom)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Alissa Trumbull is a freelance writer and graphic designer. Throughout her career, she's held a variety of unique and interesting roles including teacher, HR director and sales manager.

My own interactions with Alissa prior to a few months ago have all been through Twitter where she excels and is actively involved with many projects including #foodiechat.

As a personal bonus for me I must note that this podcast was recorded just two weeks after I visited Chicago (and saw Alissa face-to-face). After the mention of "Social Road Trip" in two of the most recent episodes, it's appropriate I turned one of my own recent road trips into a guest appearance. In honor of that trip, this week's "Five Favorites" are Chicago themed!

This Week On Why I Social, Alissa and I talk about:

Working behind the scenes at a beauty pageant
Chicago style pizza (don't act surprised)
Being a storyteller when building relationships

Get To Know Alissa

Twitter: @AnOrchidInBloom

As always, share YOUR thoughts on the latest episode using #WhyISocial. Of course, you're also invited to subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio if you'd like to get updates when the latest episode is live.

You can also follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhyISocial. Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 34 - Aaron Kilby (@Kilby76)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Aaron Kilby is Director of Marketing and Business Development at Artisan Colour. He's also the creator of #Mediachat - one of the most popular and longest running Twitterchats on-going. At the time we recorded, he was getting ready to host Randi Zuckerberg, the sister of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg.

It's important to note (since we talked about so many great things we never got around to it) that Aaron is well-known for his love of bacon. His experience in the graphic design industry, however, is often not discussed and it was a true joy to learn about where his passion for the industry came from in this episode.

This Week On Why I Social, Aaron and I talk about:

The story behind #mediachat (enter #pantschat)
Getting into graphic design
The power of fonts

Get To Know Aaron

Twitter: @Kilby76

You can also follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhyISocial. Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 33 - Cody and Katie Stevenson (@TheCodyVision and @Katies914)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

For the first time in Why I Social history, this week's podcast features not one, but two guests! Cody and Katie Stevenson.

The pair is a married couple who I've had the pleasure of getting to know (as well as host at my house for a BBQ earlier this summer). They're perhaps best known for some of their great travel stories which caught my attention early on.

Both are proficient in social media as a relationship building platform. Most recently, Cody launched his own podcast (Big Rigs and Pancakes) which focuses on conversations and getting to know people. It's the anti-social, Why I Social, and it's fantastic.

This Week On Why I Social, Cody, Katie and I talk about:

Starting a podcast
Traveling across the country
...and of course, how they met.

Get To Know Cody and Katie

Twitter:
- @TheCodyVision (Cody)
- @KatieS914 (Katie)
- @brppodcast (Podcast)

As always, share YOUR thoughts on the latest episode using #WhyISocial.

Of course, you're also invited to subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio if you'd like to get updates when the latest episode is live.

You can also follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhyISocial. Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

This Week's Episode (and don't forget to subscribe!)

iTunes (Direct Link)
Stitcher Radio (Direct Link)

Episode 32 - Albert Qian (@AlbertQian)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 12:30:00 +0000

Albert Qian (@albertqian) is Global Marketing and Communications Manager at Ingram Micro located in Silicon Valley. His list of experiences and jobs showcase his unique set of skills and his networking capabilities. I first encountered Albert while being a guest on MCEOTalk (on the same episode as him) and immediately found myself fascinated by what he was doing.

His work, in particular on a project called Albert's List, truly put other people first. It was an innovative use of social media that deserved attention. Quite frankly, I wanted to learn more. On this episode of Why I Social, you'll learn more along with me.

This Week On Why I Social, Amanda and I talk about:

How failure led to success
Living in the Silicon Valley
Albert's List

Get To Know Albert

Twitter: @albertqian

You can also follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhyISocial. Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 31 - Amanda Pensack (@RoxyDigital)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Amanda Pensack (@RoxyDigital) is marketing director at ECM Solutions in North Carolina. Her career includes stints as a social media and digital producer for WSOC-TV as well as founder of Roxy Digital - to name a few. She's a real go-getter who's career focus should take her a long way.

Perhaps what interested me most about Amanda is her involvement with Social Roadtrip - which was also mentioned on episode 29 with Joel Renner - and her passion for connecting people. Her energy and interest in helping others build relationship immediately drew my attention.

This Week On Why I Social, Amanda and I talk about:

Improv acting
Being a millennial
Social Roadtrip

As always, share YOUR thoughts on the latest episode using #WhyISocial. Of course, you're also invited to subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio if you'd like to get updates when the latest episode is live.

You can also follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhyISocial. Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 30 - Fan Favorites

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 12:30:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I began asking you, the listener to tell me your favorite #WhyISocial moment. Just three weeks later, I've put together a collection of all the moments you included (or as many of them as I could).

It wasn't enough, however, to include just your favorite moments. I wanted to include YOU. Each moment is introduced to you by the person whom suggested it so you'll hear first-hand why it's been recommended!

So, sit back and enjoy YOUR favorite moments and if yours isn't included take a moment to use #WhyISocial to share it after the podcast is over.

Fan Favorites include:

Casie Shimansky
Carlos Gil
Tim McDonald
Ted Rubin

You can also follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhyISocial. Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 29 - Joel Renner (@JoelRRenner)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Working in career services can offer a range of challenges. Just because you work in career services, however, doesn't mean you work on resumes all day. Joel Renner is Manager, Digital Strategy and Career Services at George Washington University.

Joel has managed social media for some time, but did not have his own personal account until recently. When he began to tweet, I notice him almost immediately. In particular, his methodology of growing his personal brand while starting his personal Twitter account was unique and has been highly successful.

Additionally, he has spent the bulk of his career in higher education, but on the podcast he shares his insights into his world which includes cooking, soccer and his passion for connecting people

This week on Why I Social, Joel and I talk about

Living in Alaska
Working in higher education and career services
His Twitter connection process
And much, much more...

Connect with Joel

Twitter (Personal): @JoelRRenner

You can also follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhyISocial. Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 28 - Bryan Kramer (@BryanKramer)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 10:33:16 +0000

When you think of the social media terminology "Human to Human", you think of Bryan Kramer. Bryan is the author of "There is No B2B or B2C: It's Human to Human #H2H" and "Shareology".

I've had the pleasure of chatting with Bryan here or there in the past two years on Twitter. My conversation with him on this week's episode was further proof that Bryan is a CEO who practices what he preaches.

From TED Talks to Keynote address, Bryan has established himself as a leader in the science of sharing. To be honest, he's quite frankly just a fun guy to talk with.

This week on Why I Social, Bryan and I talk about

How one prepares for a TED Talk
The difference between writing your first and second book
...and much much more

Connect with Bryan

Twitter (Personal): @bryankramer
Bryan's Blog: http://www.bryankramer.com/
Amazon Author Page

You can also follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhyISocial. Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 27 - Amy Schmittauer (@Schmittastic)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Video has been a popular topic as of late. With the rise of streaming video, it seems like you can't avoid the topic.

Amy Schmittauer knows video and runs Savvy Sexy Social with the goal of empowering brands to embrace their personality and share it with the world!

Her insights on branding, marketing and social media caught my attention following an episode of #MCEOTalk.

Get to know Amy as we discuss the challenges of running an event, creating a great video and memes!

Connect with Amy

Twitter (Personal): @schmittastic
Twitter (YouTube Channel): @savvysexysocial
YouTube: SavvySexySocial

As always, share YOUR thoughts on the latest episode using #WhyISocial.

Of course, you're also invited to subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio if you'd like to get updates when the latest episode is live. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhyISocial.

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 26 - Casie Shimansky (@TheNameIsCasie)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Sometimes you connect with someone on social media and instantly connect. That was the case when I met Casie (that's Kay-Cee) Shimansky. It could have been our shared fandom of comics. It may have been our passion for social media. It is possibly the fact that we both support many of the same causes.

Here's what else you should know. Casie has worked in social media for most of her career. She's an empowered individual who is making a difference in the world. In particular, her work with the St. Baldrick's Foundation is inspiring.

Get to know Casie as we discuss working in theme parks, Social Shake-up 2015 and girl geekdom.

Note: We also discuss pizza because she's from New Jersey originally and by audience request are required to continue the New York versus Chicago pizza debate.

Connect with Casie

Twitter: @TheNameIsCasie

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 25 - Gary J. Nix (@Mr_McFly)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 12:30:00 +0000

You name the industry and there's a good chance Gary J. Nix has worked in it. After 18+ years in traditional and digital marketing, he's currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer for bdot.

My first opportunity to finally meet Gary in person came at this year's Social Media Week in New York City. He's a member of Social Media United Nations (much like previous guests Sid Hassim and Amy Vernon) and all-around good guy (with a side of snark).

Get to know Gary as we discuss buzzwords, sports logos and the growth of Social Media Week.

Connect with Gary

Twitter: @Mr_McFly

As always, share YOUR thoughts on the latest episode using #WhyISocial. Of course, you're also invited to subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio if you'd like to get updates when the latest episode is live. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter at @WhyISocial.

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 24 - Sherrie Rohde (@SherrieRohde)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 26 May 2015 12:00:00 +0000

A few weeks ago when I initially recorded this episode, Sherrie Rohde had just started a new job as Magento's Community Manager. This week, she just completed her move for that same position. It's truly an honor to help celebrate her success by sharing it with the Why I Social community.

Sherrie first caught my attention through her amazing work with My Community Manager and #CMGRHangout (every Friday on Twitter and Google Hangouts).

Get to know Sherrie as we discuss Myers-Briggs, My Community Manager and tabletop gaming!

Connect with Sherrie

Twitter: @SherrieRohde

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 23 - Guy Kawasaki (@GuyKawasaki)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 19 May 2015 04:00:00 +0000

It's fair to say if you're reading this text right now, it's more than likely you've worked with a product from a company that Guy Kawasaki has worked for or with. With BA from Stanford and an MBA from UCLA, Guy has been a leader in the social media world for a long-time.

Whether you've read one of his books or heard him speak at one of his many keynotes, it's hard to think of a social media world that doesn't include him. He's also a true joy to speak with and a man willing to give up an hour of his time to talk to Why I Social - for which I am naturally grateful.

Get to know Guy as we discuss working at Apple, keynote speaking and the crazy stuff kids say.

Connect with Guy

Twitter: @GuyKawasaki
Webpage: GuyKawasaki.com

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 22 - Chris Mikulin (@chrismikulin)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Fri, 15 May 2015 10:00:00 +0000

What do mechanical engineering degrees and yo-yos have in common? Chris Mikulin! He's the owner of CLWY, a high end yo-yo company, based in Canada. He's also fresh off an appearance on the Social Pros Podcast.

From Snapchat to Twitter, Chris has been successful in creating great digital strategy and building a successful business based on the power of community. He's also one of the nicest people you'll probably ever meet. One conversation with him and I promise you that you will agree.

Get to know Chris as we discuss our yo-yos, meeting Bryan Kramer and performing at Social Media Marketing World.

Connect with Chris on Twitter: @ChrisMikulin

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 21 - Vincenzo Landino (@VincenzoLandino)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 12 May 2015 13:00:00 +0000

When I first met Vincenzo Landino on Twitter, I felt like there was something to him. I couldn't put my finger on it.
It wasn't long after that I invited him to help me out here or there on a little side project of mine called Why I Social.

Since first meeting Vincenzo, he's done some very cool things. He's become the host of #MCEOTalk and in many rights, a bit of a Meerkat celebrity. One thing is for sure - his personality and willingness to help others will stands out.

Get to know Vincenzo as we discuss our Why U Social project, getting involved with MillennialCEO and epic karaoke.

Connect with Vincenzo on Twitter: @VincenzoLandino

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 20 - Britt Michaelian (@BrittMichaelian)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 05 May 2015 04:22:19 +0000

Britt Michaelian launched the Mass Amplify Podcast around the same time that Why I Social went live. Both podcasts hit the new and notable at the same time. Both myself and Britt conversed quite a bit about podcasting and supported one another's podcast.

Basically, this podcast collaboration is long-overdue.

Last Thursday, Britt released an episode of the Mass Amplify Podcast that featured me. Today, that conversation continues and instead focuses on the founder of Mass Amplify herself.

Get to know Britt as we discuss podcasting, writing and having her own profile on IMDB.

Episode 19 - Ted Coine (@TedCoine)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 11:57:37 +0000

Ted Coine is the CMO of Meddle and his previous experiences in leadership and entrepreneurial positions throughout his career make him someone I've long desired to have on the show. He's also co-author of "A World Gone Social" with previous Why I Social guest Mark Babbitt.

Get to know Ted, as we discuss co-writing "A World Gone Social", joining Meddle.it and English as a Second Language.

Note: Starting today, every Tuesday will be the day new episodes go live. In weeks that include two episodes, you'll get a new episode on Tuesday and Friday.

Connect with Ted on Twitter: @TedCoine

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 18 - Melany Berger (@Melanyb12)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 01:59:01 +0000

One word to describe Melany Berger? According to her blog that word is snarky. That same blog, MelanysGuydlines.com, is up for a Shorty Award the day many may be listening to this episode (4/2015). In all fairness, she already won the Vox Populi vote for most fan votes for the blogger category - so she's off to a great start.

Melany is also an Advisory Board member at the University of Arizona for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and enjoys teaching students about the future of social media and how they can turn social media influence into a profession.

My introduction to Melany came in a recent episode of Social Hangout. What stood out to me immediately was the level of energy she brings to any conversation. It's safe to say she brought that to Why I Social.

Get to know Melany as we discuss blogging, being a Shorty award finalist and annoyance of before and after fitness photos on Instagram.

Episode 16 - Alexandra Shinert (@AShinert)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 12:04:43 +0000

I've had the pleasure of knowing Alexandra Shinert for over 5+ years starting with her time as a student at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In recent years, the way she has used social media has impressed me as she's built relationships and connections the way every student should.

As she approaches graduation from New York University with a Master of Arts Degree in Media, Culture and Communication, I felt it was finally time to share her with my audience. Make no mistake, this episode is very personal to me. I hope you are as impressed with Alexandra as I am.

Get to know Alex as we discuss television as a means of storytelling, the value of the mentor/mentee relationship and Paterson, NJ.

Connect with Alexandra on Twitter: @AShinert

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 15 - Greg Galant (@Greg)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 12:00:27 +0000

Gregory Galant the the co-creator and executive producer of The Shorty Awards honoring the best of social media. Greg's also the cofounder and CEO of Muck Rack, a digital PR and journalism platform. I had the pleasure of meeting Greg this past February at Social Media Week (NYC) and was impressed not only by his knowledge, but his passion for social media. In truth, I remain jealous of his status as a member of the Twitter first name club.

Get to know Greg as we discuss the challenges of being an entrepreneur, the story behind the creation of the Shorty Awards and building his first web site (and includes a mention of Prodigy Internet).

Connect with Greg on Twitter: @Gregory

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 14 - Amy Vernon

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 03:08:45 +0000

Amy Vernon spent over 20 years of her career in the journalism field before (as her LinkedIn profile describes so well) the Great Newspaper Culling of 2008. She seamlessly integrated herself into the digital age and has been a leader in the social media industry since.

Get to know Amy as we discuss the evolution of journalism, blogging and of course, bacon.

Connect with Amy on Twitter: @AmyVernon

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 13 - Ben Rubin (of Meerkat)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 13:35:56 +0000

There's a cool new kat on the street these days and it goes by the name of Meerkat. The app took SXSW by storm and the man behind Meerkat joined Why I Social to give us a chance to get to know 27 year old entrepreneur (and of course, talk a little bit about Meerkat).

This week's episode is a bit different than previous episodes as it also was a live Meerkat recording - so it's raw, real and unedited. Take a listen and get to know Ben Rubin, learn about his SXSW experience and how he got where he is today with Meerkat!

Connect with Ben on Twitter: @Benrbn

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 12 - Dave Kerpen

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 13:42:38 +0000

Dave Kerpen is an author, entrepreneur as well as a former reality television star (Paradise Hotel). His story is a unique one - as the story of his business begins with a marriage - to his wife and current Likeable Media CEO Carrie Kerpen. If I were to describe Dave in one word, it's quite simple.

Likeable.

Get to know Dave as we discuss starting Likeable Media, the New York Mets and how being on reality tv helped shaped him as a CEO.

Connect with Dave on Twitter: @DaveKerpen

Thank you to BenjoBeats (@BenjoBeats) and Jeff Januszek (@JeffJanuszek) for their contributions (music and voiceover) to the podcast.

Episode 11 - Matt Black

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:21:16 +0000

Early on in Why I Social's episode collection is a spur of the moment episode (titled episode 3.5) and it was made around Community Manager Appreciation day. That episode was inspired by an idea suggested by this week's guest, Matt Black.

This week's episode with Matt Black who works in the sports and entertainment industry. Matt is a member of the social beards and has been working to develop his own digital identity. He's a great example that you don't need to have a social media focused career to truly find the value of social media (and do it right).

Get to know Matt as we discuss working in sports, crafting one's digital identity and Breaking Bad.

Connect with Matt on Twitter: @MattBlackInk

Episode 10 - Ira Haberman

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 03:45:15 +0000

Last week I was excited to bring in someone who was well-versed in the world of content and content strategty. It's safe to say I can say the same thing again this week.

This week's episode with Ira Haberman, Director of Marketing at Atomic Reach, features an individual who has crafted his own success. Not only has he actually accomplished his dream job - something so few of us get to do in our lives - but has done it the right way. So, I invite you...

Get to know Ira as we discuss the importance of storytelling, the growth of mobile technology and of course, the Grateful Dead!

As always, share your thoughts on the latest episode after you listen using #WhyISocial. I also invite you to subscribe so you can get the latest episode as soon as it's available!

Episode 9 - Erika Heald (@SFerika)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 12:57:43 +0000

For the next two episodes, I'm excited to bring in some people who really get the idea of creating content. This week's episode with Erika Heald, a content marketer and social strategist, is no exception. Erika's unique background has seen her grow from freelancer to her current role as Head of Social Media and Content Marketing.

Get to know Erika as she talks living in San Fran, being a foodie, time management and World of Warcraft. Yep, you heard right - we get a bit of our geek on in this one!

As always, share your thoughts on the latest episode after you listen using #WhyISocial. I also invite you to subscribe so you can get the latest episode as soon as it's available!

Episode 8 - Sid Hassim (@IamMrSid)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 18:26:34 +0000

You name the conference, there's a good chance that Sid Hassim has covered it. Sid is a blogger, a social media strategist and a community manager. He's also one of the most authentic people I've ever had a chance to meet and one of the most fun guests the podcast has had to-date.

Get to know Sid as he discusses social trends, what it means to be a disruptor, tells us a bit more about SMUN (Social Media United Nations) and how we met at Social Media Week in New York City last year (just in time for THIS year's events).

Episode 7 - Mark Babbitt

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 03:00:00 +0000

The world of career services, recruiting and personal branding is a tricky one. No one knows that better than Mark Babbitt, CEO of YouTern. His journey to the role of CEO hasn't been an easy one and it's a story worth hearing.
We also debate the stigma around the term "personal branding".

Get to know Mark as he shares the origins of YouTern, great tips for building your personal brand and talks about the power of authenticity.

There's more!
Listeners will have an opportunity to win a copy of his and Ted Coine's book "A World Gone Social". How? Simple - listen to the podcast and you'll find out! Also, I make an announcement about an additional Why I Social project coming to a (video) channel near you! As always, share YOUR thoughts on the latest episode using #WhyISocial.

Note: Contest winner will be selected 7 days after the release of the podcast.

Episode 6 - Sarah Nagel

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:44:55 +0000

Hailing from the Windy City, Sarah Nagel (Sprout_Sarah) is a Social Marketing Specialist at Sprout Social. She is also the creator and host of #SproutChat which takes place every Wednesday at 2 p.m. CST.

Get to know Sarah as we talk all things Sprout life in Chicago and discusses the art that is the handwritten note.

Episode 5 - Christin Kardos

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 04:00:46 +0000

From Okinawa to Fort Worth, Christin Kardos offers years of experience in the social media and human resources world. She currently serves as Director of Social Media at Bay Leaf Digital. She was recently featured in a segment of the #AskGaryVee show.

Get to know Christin as we talk Community Manager Appreciation Day, the challenges of changing countries, collaboration and Gary Vaynerchuk.

Episode 4 - Tim McDonald

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 05:10:45 +0000

On This Episode of Why I Social

Tim McDonald currently serves as Purveyor of Purpose at Be The Change Revolutions. He has previously served as Director of Community at the Huffington Post and is the founder of My Community Manager.

Get to know Tim, whether he prefers Chicago or New York style pizza and learn about what No Kid Hungry is all about in Episode 4 of Why I Social.

Episode 3.5 (The #CMAD Special Edition)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:44:16 +0000

As a celebration of the heart and soul of social media (aka the community manager), I decided to have a bit of fun on this year's Community Manager Appreciation Day. I reached out to a couple of people on twitter using #CMAD and asked them to join me on the podcast.

This podcast is a celebration of what makes social go 24/7, 365 days a year. This is for you, Mr or Mrs. Community Manager. Enjoy.

Guests in today's episode include (in order): Brooke Haney, Courtney Doman and Emma Cunningham

P.S. Credit to @MattBlackInk for the inspiration

Episode 3 - Ted Rubin

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:27:11 +0000

On this episode of Why I Social - Ted Rubin

Ted Rubin is a leading Social Marketing Strategist who has more than his fair share of social media leaders in the industry. He is perhaps best known for his coining of the phrase ROR (Return on Relationships).

If you've been in social media for even a short amount of time, you know the name Ted Rubin. Ted shares his experiences, the story behind ROR and even shares his favorite movie in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film series.

Get to know Ted Rubin in this episode of Why I Social.

Episode 2 - Dom Garrett (@DomGarrett)

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 20:53:33 +0000

On this episode of Why I Social:

Dom Garrett (@DomGarrett on Twitter) joins me to discuss the idea of being a digital connector, twitterchats and Gary Vaynerchuk being his social media sherpa . Dominick is an active social media personality and recently taken the Movy platform by storm with a plethura of content each day.

Get to know Dom today on Why I Social.

Episode 1 - Meet The Podcast

whyIsocial@gmail.com (Christopher Barrows) — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 18:33:06 +0000

And so it begins... The first episode of Why I Social introduces what you can expect to see in 2015 and how the podcast came to be. This is Why I Social!